University of St. Thomas Athletics
17-0MIAC, 22-2
Saint Mary's
9-8MIAC, 14-10
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Thomas | 17 | 14 | 15 | 22 | 68 |
| Saint Mary's | 18 | 14 | 11 | 19 | 62 |
Women's Hoops' K and K duo KOs Cardinals
2/14/2018 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Freshman Kaia Porter and junior Kaylie Brazil combined to make 8-of-8 free throws in the final 15 seconds to help No. 8-ranked St. Thomas keep its cushion and hold off host St. Mary's, 68-62, in MIAC women's basketball play Wednesday night in Winona.
Junior guard Lucia Renikoff scored 22 points for the Tommies (22-2 overall, 17-0 MIAC), who secured at least a share of the program's fourth consecutive MIAC championship and moved to 10-0 on the road this season.
They are only the second school in the 35-year history of MIAC women's hoops to win or share four or more consecutive titles (St. Ben's had three solo and two co-titles in a row from 2005-10).
If the Tommies beat 16-1 and current second-place St. Ben's Saturday (3 p.m.) at home in the regular-season finale, they would become the first MIAC women's program to win four consecutive solo championships.
St. Thomas, which trailed 32-31 at halftime, sank 11-of-25 of its 3-point tries and converted 15-of-17 at the foul line to hold off the fifth-place Cardinals (14-10, 9-8).
UST has won 51 consecutive games against MIAC opponents, 29 in a row on the road, and 15 in a row this season.
After St. Thomas' top scoring threat Hannah Spaulding had fouled out with under 3:00 remaining, Renikoff sank a clutch trey with 1:10 to go for a 60-56 Tommie lead.
The Cards later made one of two at the foul line to cut the lead to 62-59 with 15 seconds to go, but sank both foul shots for a 62-57 lead.
SMU made two more free throws, but Porter sank two more with :13 to play to make it 64-59. Porter would make four more at the line to secure the victory.
Lauren Fischer added 11 points and six rebounds, and Brazil chipped in nine points and nine boards.
