University of St. Thomas Athletics
13-3, 7-2MIAC
St. Olaf
10-6, 5-4MIAC
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Univ. of St. Thomas | 15 | 12 | 13 | 20 | 60 |
| St. Olaf | 16 | 14 | 16 | 8 | 54 |
Women's basketball collects comeback win
1/20/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
NORTHFIELD, Minn. – The St. Thomas women's basketball team trailed by six points (46-40) heading to the fourth quarter before outscoring St. Olaf 20-8 in the final 10 minutes to collect a 60-54 come-from-behind win at the Skoglund Center on Wednesday night.
Kaitlin Langer recorded her eighth double-double of the season with a season-high 25 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Tommies. Makenna Ash scored 16 points to lead the Oles.
With the win, St. Thomas improves to 13-3 overall and 7-2 in the MIAC, while St. Olaf drops to 10-6 overall and 5-4 in league play.
The two teams went back-and-forth in a highly contested first quarter. Neither team led by more than three points in a period that saw seven lead changes and St. Olaf out to a one-point lead (16-15).
A quick 6-0 run to start the second quarter helped the Oles to extend their lead heading into halftime. St. Olaf outscored the Tommies 14-12 in the second frame and clung to a 30-27 lead despite shooting just 37.5-percent (12-32) to St. Thomas's 47.4-percent (9-19). That lead was thanks in large part to 14 turnovers from the Purple.
The Tommies regained the lead shortly after halftime following back-to-back baskets by Kaitlin Langer, but the lead would not last long, as a 9-2 run for the Oles put them out in front by six points, their largest lead of the night. St. Thomas was able to cut the lead to four, but trailed by six (46-40) headed to the final frame.
After Makenna Ash made a layup to push the St. Olaf lead to eight, the Tommies went on to outscore the Oles 20-6 over the final eight and a half minutes, led by seven points each from Langer and senior Katie Stone.
The Oles came within three (57-54) in the final minutes, but it was as close as they would come, as the Tommies made three of their final four free throws down the stretch to seal the victory.
St. Thomas held the Oles to 35-percent (21-60) shooting from the field, including a 20-percent (3-15) mark from the three-point line. It is the fifth time in the last six games that the Tommies have held their opponent to under 40-percent shooting. The Purple shot 46.7-percent (21-45) from the floor and 33.3-percent (7-21) from three.
St. Thomas also committed 22 turnovers to St. Olaf's 17, which led to a 23-12 advantage for the Oles in points off turnovers.
Langer led all players with 25 points on 10-of-14 shooting to go along with 13 rebounds. Lauren Fischer followed with 11 points on 4-of-8 shooting, including three triples, while Stone was the only other Tommie to score in double figures with 10 points.
Makenna Ash came off the bench to score a team-high 16 points for the Oles on 7-of-15 shooting from the field. She also pulled down a team-high nine boards. Afton Wolter was the only other player in double digits for St. Olaf with 12 points.
St. Thomas will be back in action on Saturday for a return trip to Northfield, this time against Carleton College. That game is scheduled for a 3:00 pm tip off.
