Playoff basketball is back in Winona.
For the first time since 2016, Saint Mary’s women’s basketball will host a conference tournament game, welcoming fans to campus Tuesday, Feb. 24 at 7:00 p.m.
The anticipation has been building throughout the week. With a potential sweep of Hamline University and Gustavus Adolphus College, the Cardinals had an opportunity to share the regular-season title with Concordia College, which ultimately secured the No. 1 seed, after navigating a challenging final stretch.
Regardless, Saint Mary’s delivered one of its strongest seasons in a decade, finishing 19-5 overall which was the program’s best record since 2015-16.
The Cardinals officially secured their postseason berth on Feb. 14 with an 80-63 victory over College of St. Scholastica. From that point forward, the focus shifted to tournament positioning.
As the No. 4 seed, Saint Mary’s will now host the No. 5 seed Pipers in a decisive matchup with advancement on the line.
The two teams split their regular-season series. On Dec. 10, the Cardinals protected their home court with a 54-51 win, forcing 21 turnovers while Ayla and Kali Olson led the offense with 18 and 12 points, respectively. Less than a week ago, the Pipers answered with a 77-72 win, capitalizing on 22 Saint Mary’s turnovers, despite a combined 50-point effort from the Olson duo.
Tuesday’s contest will determine who moves on.
With a win, the Cardinals would advance to the semifinals of the 2026 MIAC Women’s Basketball Playoffs on Thursday, Feb. 26, traveling to either No. 2 Gustavus or No. 1 Concordia. The semifinal winners will meet Saturday, Feb. 28, in the championship game, with the conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Women’s Basketball Tournament at stake.
The postseason has arrived, and Saint Mary’s will look to defend its home court.
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
Ticketing
All tickets must be purchased online through HomeTown Ticketing. There will be no cash sales at the venue. Spectators may purchase tickets on their mobile devices, including upon arrival.
Streaming
The 2026 MIAC Women’s Basketball Playoffs will stream live on the MIAC Sports Network in a pay-per-view format. Individual games are available for $10, or fans may purchase a $25 championship pass for access to the entire tournament. On-demand viewing will be available following the conclusion of the NCAA Tournament.
Saint Mary’s Students
Saint Mary’s students will receive complimentary admission with a valid student ID. Toppers pizza and white playoff rally towels will be available while supplies last. The game will feature a white-out theme, and students are encouraged to wear white in support of the Cardinals.
We cannot wait to pack the arena for a big matchup ahead!
