Guard Maddie Wolkow controls the ball during the first period. The Toms have won 16 in a row on the season and 52 consecutive games against conference opponents. (Sophie Ringold/TommieMedia)
Guard Lucia Renikoff defends Cardinal Emily Codding as she attempts to make a pass. St. Thomas’ defense helped limit St. Mary’s to 29-percent shooting (16-of-56). (Sophie Ringold/TommieMedia)
Center Elsa Anderson passes the ball to guard Kaylie Brazil during the second period. The Tommies won 65-44 in the MIAC semifinal. (Sophie Ringold/TommieMedia)
Guard Lucia Renikoff drives towards the Tommie basket. St. Thomas had a 37-30 rebounding edge and outscored the visitors 24-12 from 3-point range. (Sophie Ringold/TommieMedia)
Center Elsa Anderson signals for her teammate to pass the ball. Anderson contributed career highs with 15 points and 10 rebounds. (Sophie Ringold/TommieMedia)
Guard Lucia Renikoff talks to the bench during a dead ball. Renikoff chipped in 13 points, 10 boards and four assists. (Sophie Ringold/TommieMedia)
The Tommie teammates huddle together after the first period. St. Thomas defeated St. Mary’s 65-44. (Sophie Ringold/TommieMedia)
Guard Kaylie Brazil keeps an eye on her opponent during the first period. The Toms won the semifinal playoff round over fifth-seed St. Mary’s. (Sophie Ringold/TommieMedia)
Center Elsa Anderson and guard Lucia Renikoff each tallied a double-double for a combined 28 points and 20 rebounds to carry St. Thomas women’s basketball to a 65-44 win over Saint Mary’s in the MIAC semifinals Thursday at Schoenecker Arena.
Even in the absence of key player Hannah Spaulding, the Tommies (24-2 overall, 19-0 MIAC) never allowed the Cardinals (16-11 overall, 10-9 MIAC) to take the lead at any point in the game.
“I, as a coach, was very, very proud of them,” coach Ruth Sinn said. “They just really locked them down defensively and did a nice job of being able to attack offensively.”
After the Tommies and the Cardinals started the game off cold from the field, St. Thomas guard Maddie Wolkow scored the first points of the game and ignited her team to a 10-0 run. Saint Mary’s first points didn’t come until nearly eight minutes in the quarter. The Tommies went into the second quarter with a 14-5 lead.
Renikoff scored nine points in the second quarter to help give St. Thomas a 34-17 lead going into halftime.
The Tommies went on a three-point shooting frenzy in the third, hitting three consecutive treys, two of them by forward Lauren Fischer, to end the quarter with a 52-33 lead. The team went on to secure the win in the fourth.
Anderson, having to fill Spaulding’s spot, scored 15 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in the game.
“It was really an amazing opportunity to be able to step up,” Anderson said. “To have all my teammates backing me up– there wasn’t a second where I felt like they doubted me. Just having that confidence felt really great.”
The Tommies will play Gustavus for the MIAC championship Saturday at Schoenecker Arena. Tip off is at 3 p.m.
“Everyone just knows we all have to pick it up even more,” guard Kaia Porter said. “We all have to bring even more toughness, do little things, we got to limit our mistakes even more and just bring as much as we have.”
Matthew Curry can be reached at curr1523@stthomas.edu.