BISMARCK, N.D. - On their first back-to-back of the new-look Frontier Conference season, the No. 14-ranked Carroll Women escaped the Armory with a 66-63 win over Bismarck State in the first ever meeting between the two schools to cap a 2-0 weekend East of the border.

It certainly wasn't exactly how they imagined it, but the Fighting Saints (3-2, 2-1) got the job done in the first matchup against the newly-minted NAIA and Frontier foe Mystics (1-4, 1-1).

For the first time ever, the Saints played on Bismarck State's green court, and right from the opening tip knew they were in for a fight. The Mystics, coming off an impressive victory over No. 17 Rocky last night, got the jump on the Saints in the first - leading 16-13 after one thanks to Kennedy Stormer's 10-point effort and seven Carroll fouls in the frame.

Carroll settled into things in the second quarter, shooting over 50 percent (7-13) from the floor while limiting Bismarck State to just 22 percent (4-18). Portland State transfer Avery Kraft (Helena, Mont. / R-FR) was outstanding in the frame, leading the Saints with 10 points to help Carroll take a 31-28 lead into the break.

On the other side of the half, it was Willa Albrecht's turn to take control, as the All-Conference guard matched Kraft's 10 second quarter points to help extend the Saints' lead to six heading into the fourth.

Midway through the fourth, the Mystics grabbed a slim one-point lead, but five-straight response points from Albrecht helped catapult the Saints back in front. BSC kept things interesting, knocking down a triple with just 20 seconds remaining to pull within one, but a pair of Avery Kraft free throws put the game on ice for the Saints.

Meagan Karstetter (Moses Lake, Wash. / SR) scored five or more points in three of the four quarters in the win, as she finished just two points shy of her career-high. She matched Albrecht, with the pair leading the Saints with 17 points apiece. 

The Saints will return to Helena and get ready for their annual Thanksgiving Classic, as they welcome Lewis-Clark State and Oregon Tech to the PE Center for a pair on Friday and Saturday.