ST. PAUL, Minn. - The University of Minnesota Morris women's basketball team traveled to St. Catherine University for their last matchup before conference play. The Cougars fell 76-41 in the tough matchup against the MIAC opponent. 

Minnesota Morris jumped out to an early 9-2 lead in the matchup after Claire Stark broke open the scoring with a layup in the first minute of the game. The Wildcats launched a 17-4 scoring run in response, leaving the Cougars trailing 13-19 at the end of the first quarter. St. Catherine ran away with the second quarter allowing just six points from Minnesota Morris while dropping twenty of their own. Stark, Maddy Grove, and Anna Myers were the lone Cougars to score in the second quarter, and the team faced a 39-19 deficit heading into halftime.

Once again, it was Stark who led the scoring for Minnesota Morris in the third quarter with two buckets in the paint to kick things off. Unfortunately, the Cougars struggled to gain momentum as St. Catherine's defense was able to hold them to just ten points, including four made shots at the charity stripe for Grove and Katelyn Lindberg, in the quarter while the Wildcats found 24 points against the Cougar defense. Minnesota Morris came out in force in the final quarter of the game, holding the Wildcats to thirteen points and dropping twelve of their own to finish the game trailing 41-76 on the road.

Grove led the Cougars in points on the day, dropping fourteen while adding two steals and rebounds. Stark dropped eight of her own points and pulled in four rebounds. Myers racked up six points to aid the Minnesota Morris offense.

The Cougars will take James Gremmels Court Jan. 8 at 7:15 for their conference opener against Martin Luther College.