HELENA, Mont. - Led by a staunch defensive effort in the second half, the No. 24-ranked Carroll Women's Basketball team coasted to a 58-34 win over Bellevue on Saturday evening at the Carroll College PE Center.

Unlike last night's nail-biting battle, the Fighting Saints (9-6, 7-2) left no doubts in a lopsided 24-point victory over the Bruins (6-8, 2-7).

Fresh off of their thrilling last second win and a 49 percent effort from the floor on Friday, the Carroll offense came out about as flat as possible on Saturday. The Saints missed each of their first six attempts of the game before the newest member of the 1,000-point club, Willa Albrecht (Billings, Mont. / R-SR) finally put them on the board with a three just over four minutes into the game. While Carroll offense wasn't super efficient in the opener, defensively they were highly impressive, holding Bellevue to just eight points on 18 percent shooting (3-16).

Seven was the number for the Saints in the second frame, as both Albrecht and Jillian Kanduch (Miles City, Mont. / FR) scored seven points each, combining for seven points over the final minute to give Carroll a 29-21 lead at the break.

Per usual, the Carroll Coaching staff made several adjustments at the half, and the Saints began to break free. The defense was stifling in the third, holding the Bruins to just five points on five total field goal attempts. The Saints came away with five steals in the frame, and forced Bellevue into 11 third quarter turnovers.

Albrecht capped her game-high 22-point effort with seven more points in the fourth quarter, and the Saints held the Bruins to just two makes for the second-straight frame to close out the impressive defensive showing.

For the game, Carroll held Bellevue to just 27 percent from the floor, finishing the evening with 11 team steals and five total blocks. 

Behind Albrecht's 22 points, both Kanduch and Kenzie Allen (Grantsville, Utah / JR) added nine points, while all three pulled down four rebounds each. Ava Oakland (Boise, Idaho / SR) led Carroll on the glass with her season-high six boards.

Another pair of home games await the Saints next weekend at the PE Center, as they'll look to build off the new year wins against Mayville State on Friday, and Valley City State on Saturday - both games tipping-off at 5 p.m.