The St. Thomas women’s basketball team extended its winning streak to nine games on Wednesday evening, defeating Gustavus 61-45 at home.

The 13th-ranked Tommies (11-0 MIAC, 16-2 overall) were powered by strong performances from guard Lucia Renikoff and center Hannah Spaulding. The two combined for 41 points against the Gusties (8-3 MIAC, 14-4 overall).

Spaulding delivered 22 points with an efficient 9-11 field goal clip. She currently leads all Division III players in field goal efficiency, shooting 71.6 percent from the floor, and leads the MIAC in scoring at 20.2 points a game.

Spaulding attributes much of her growth as a player to Kaitlin Langer, last year’s National Player of the Year and behind whom Spaulding sat on the depth chart.

“She would get double teamed all the time,” Spaulding said, “so I just learned how to play through that and she showed how to be strong with the ball.”

Outside shooting was a big part of the Tommies’ offensive strategy Wednesday, as they dropped in eight of their nineteen three-point attempts.

“Offense is spacing and spacing is offense,” coach Sinn said. “The girls do a nice job a getting the ball into the post and then moving. You can double (Spaulding), but then you are leaving a cutter open.”

St. Thomas’ last three victories have come against Bethel (6-2 MIAC), Saint Benedict (9-1 MIAC) and Gustavus (8-3 MIAC). Sinn said stiff competition has brought out the best in her girls.

“This last stretch has been great,” she said. “We’re excited that we get other teams’ best shot and we’re excited that we get to play intense basketball. That is how you grow. That is how you improve.”

The Tommies will look to push their win-streak to double digits Saturday evening when they take on the Hamline Pipers in Schoenecker Arena.

Kyle Manderfeld can be reached at mand4052@stthomas.edu.