University of St. Thomas Athletics
15-15,7-9Summit League
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8-21,5-11Summit League
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Tommies stun Pioneers in regular season finale
3/2/2024 8:13:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Scalia, Opichka score combined 49 points for St. Thomas
DENVER, COLO. – The University of St. Thomas women's basketball team found the best way to close the 2023-24 regular season: with a win and a little revenge. After the University of Denver dealt the Tommies a 67-61 win on their own Senior Day in early February, St. Thomas returned the favor on Saturday, dealing the Pioneers a 79-68 loss on their own Senior Day. With the win, the Tommies close the 2023-24 regular season with a 15-15 record and a 7-9 mark in Summit League play.
RECAP
It took St. Thomas a minute or two to get in the groove, allowing Denver to jump out to a 10-6 lead in a defensive first quarter of basketball. The Tommies, though, eventually found their way in Hamilton Gymnasium and outscored the Pioneer 8-0 in the final two minutes of the quarter. Amber Scalia (Stillwater, Minn. / Stillwater) did most of the scoring for St. Thomas, scoring five points in the first quarter on 2-3 shooting. Jordyn Glynn (Grand Meadow, Minn. / Grand Meadow) and Sammy Opichka (Green Bay, Wis. / Notre Dame) also got in on the scoring efforts, helping give the Tommies 14-10 lead after the first.
Denver was quick to make up the deficit, scoring six quick points to open the second quarter and regain a 16-14 advantage. From there, the two teams were off to the races, ducking it out for supremacy. Down 18-16, Jade Hill (Minneapolis, Minn. / South) moved to #10 all-time on the career scoring list and gave the Tommies a 19-18 lead. The Pioneers would trade leads and baskets with St. Thomas for the remaining 6:47 of the quarter before the Tommies nabbed a 34-30 lead on back-to-back baskets by Opichka.
The final 27 seconds of the second quarter set the tone for the second half. Faith Feuerbach (Sycamore, Ill. / Sycamore) scored three points in the final seconds of play, securing a 37-32 advantage for St. Thomas headed into the locker room at half. To start the third, the Tommies only extended their lead, jumping ahead 48-35 before Denver made things interesting. The Pioneers outscored St. Thomas 16-7 in the final seven minutes of the third quarter, taking a 51-50 lead entering the fourth and final quarter.
Spurred by Denver's late run, the Tommies opened the fourth quarter with an 8-0 run, and all the points were scored by Scalia and Opichka. That burst took the wind right out of the Pioneers sails, as St. Thomas dominated the final 10 minutes of play. Even when Denver pulled within two, making it 64-62 with 5:04 remaining in the game, the Tommies stayed cool and outscored 15-6 in the final five minutes of play. Opichak and Scalia were totally dominant in the run, scoring every single St. Thomas basket but one to secure the 79-68 victory.
TOP TOMMIES
- Amber Scalia (Stillwater, Minn. / Stillwater) was lights out for the Tommies in Saturday's win, leading the way with 25 points on 7-15 shooting. The sophomore guard also went 10-11 from the charity strike and tallied a career high seven assists in the win.
- Sammy Opichka (Green Bay, Wis. / Notre Game) was one point away from tying her career high, as she closed Saturday with a season-high 24 points on 10-15 shooting. She also recorded three rebounds and two steals in the win.
- Angelina Hammond (Hopkins, Minn. Hopkins) led the team with six rebounds Saturday afternoon.
TOURNEY TIME
Thanks to Saturday's victory, St. Thomas clinched the No. 5 seed in the Summit League Tournament, the team's highest finish in the conference standings in the Division I era. The Tommies will take on No. 4 seed South Dakota on Sunday, March 11. More details will be released at a later date. The win also secured St. Thomas first .500+ winning regular season in the Division I era.
UP NEXT
St. Thomas will open its Summit League Tournament run on Sunday, March 11, as the team is set to take on South Dakota in the quarterfinal round. Tip off is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. at the Danny Sanford Premiere Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
