University of St. Thomas Athletics
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Iowa State
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Sand's career high highlights trip to #14 Iowa State
11/3/2025 1:45:00 PM | Women's Basketball
AMES, IOWA – The University of St. Thomas women's basketball season has officially tipped off. The Tommies opened their 2025-26 campaign at No. 14 Iowa State, falling by a final score of 85-36. With the loss, St. Thomas moves to 0-1 on the year and will return to St. Paul to open Lee & Penny Anderson Arena on Saturday, November 8.
QUICK HITS:
- Alyssa Sand (Albany, Minn. / Albany) led the Tommies in scoring with a career-high 17 points on 5-of-8 shooting. She also paced the team with seven rebounds.
- St. Thomas led 5-4 early in the first quarter and closed the gap to 22-16 with baskets by Sand and Abbey Vallance (Sydney, Australia / Tara Anglican School) early in the second.
- In addition to Vallance, three other players scored their first baskets as Tommies: Savannah McGowan (Plymouth, Minn. / Armstrong), Jada Hood (St. Paul, Minn. / Roseville Area) and Autumn McCall (Blaine, Minn. / Centennial).
SCORING SUMMARY:
First Quarter: St. Thomas hung with nationally ranked Iowa State in the opening quarter thanks to an outstanding performance from Sand, who went 4-for-4 from the floor and scored all 12 of the Tommies' points in the first 10 minutes. The Tommie defense also limited the Cyclones to just 33.3 percent shooting, including a 2-for-10 clip from beyond the arc, resulting in a 22-12 Iowa State lead after one.
Second Quarter: The Cyclone offense came alive in the second quarter, outscoring the Tommies 21-7 to extend their lead to 43-19. McCall and Vallance each scored their first baskets with St. Thomas during the frame.
Third Quarter: Sand tied her previous career high in scoring early in the third quarter, continuing to lead the Tommie offense. Vallance also added another bucket, but Iowa State pulled ahead 65-24 after 30 minutes of play.
Fourth Quarter: Hood, McGowan, Faith Feuerbach (Sycamore, Ill. / Sycamore), and Savanah Gardner (Apple Valley, Minn. / Eastview) joined in the scoring for St. Thomas in the fourth quarter. Sand notched her career-high 17th point as the Tommies fell by a final score of 85-36.
TOMMIE TIDBITS:
- Sand scored a career-high 17 points and led the team with seven rebounds, shooting 5-of-8 from the floor and 7-of-9 from the free-throw line.
- Feuerbach started the third season opener of her Tommie career, finishing with two points, two rebounds, and a steal.
- As a team, St. Thomas outscored Iowa State in the paint 8-6 in the first quarter and scored 18 of its 36 total points in the paint.
UP NEXT:
St. Thomas will christen Lee & Penny Anderson Arena (from a basketball standpoint) this upcoming Saturday, November 8 as the team hosts Army, Lee Anderson's alma mater. Tipoff is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. in St. Paul, Minnesota, and tickets are available at www.tommiesports.com/tickets.
