Concord, Calif. – For the young Cardinal Newman girls basketball team, the CIF Northern Regional Division I semifinal against Carondelet played out in a frustratingly familiar way. Just two weeks after losing to the Cougars in the CIF North Coast Section Open Division Third-Place game, the rematch followed a similar script, with the Cardinals staying close early before Carondelet pulled away for a 64-46 victory.

The defeat ends a season of growth for seventh-seeded Cardinal Newman (22-10), which featured a mix of youthful talent and the leadership of standout senior Kate Schat, who played her final game for the program. Schat left it all on the court, leading the Cardinals with 13 points, four rebounds, and three assists. Freshman post player Saundra Jordan added nine points and nine rebounds, showcasing her potential despite facing relentless defensive pressure from Carondelet.

"We gave it our all," Cardinal Newman head coach Monica Mertle said. "This team grew so much this season, and I couldn't be prouder of their effort. Carondelet is a tough team, but we'll learn from this."

The Cardinals kept it tight in the opening quarter, trailing just 12-8, and closed the gap to 12-10 early in the second. However, when Jordan picked up her second foul, Carondelet seized control. The Cougars led 28-17 at halftime and extended their lead to 34-20 early in the third quarter. Despite a brief Cardinal Newman push to cut the deficit to 34-25, Carondelet responded with another run, putting the game out of reach by the fourth quarter.

The loss does little to overshadow the season's highlights for the Cardinals, including their thrilling 62-61 upset over Clovis in the NorCal quarterfinals—a victory that avenged a 16-point loss to Clovis earlier in the year. With only two seniors on the roster, Cardinal Newman's future looks bright, especially with players like Jordan and fellow underclassmen gaining valuable postseason experience.

"We've got a young group, and this season was about building for the future," Mertle added. "Kate (Schat) has been such an incredible leader, and her impact on this program will be felt for years to come."

For Carondelet (28-6), the victory sets up a CIF Northern Regional Division I championship game against St. Mary's-Stockton on Tuesday. The Cougars were led by junior forward Layla Dixon, who had 13 points, seven rebounds, and four assists, and received double-digit contributions from three other players, including flashy junior guard Sophia Ross, who hit four three-pointers.

The young Cougars' ability to stifle Cardinal Newman's offense was key, particularly their efforts to contain Schat and Jordan. "Defense was the difference tonight," Carondelet head coach Kelly Sopak said. "We had to focus on slowing down their bigs, and the team executed that plan well."

While the Cardinals' season ends here, the foundation for future success has been firmly established. With a promising core returning, Cardinal Newman fans have plenty to look forward to in the coming years.