Last week, the Hamline women's basketball team made a major move and stepped into the middle of a competitive battle for playoff positions. 

Now they face a team that has some serious playoff aspirations -- and a history of going a long way when it gets there --  of its own.

Hamline, tied for sixth with a 5-5 MIAC mark, hits the midseason mark Wednesday night at Hutton Arena against St. Benedict, off to a 7-3 start and coming to the game off a 66-62 win over league leader St. Thomas.

Steph Pilgrim had a week to remember, scoring 78 points and being named Women's Basketball Athlete Of The Week.

But she had plenty of company as the Pipers defeated St. Catherine's and Concordia while dropping a two-point game at St. Olaf. There was Jordan Sammons, who hit all six of her free throws in OT as the Pipers scored the last 13 points in the 73-66 win in Moorhead. There was Cassidy Vogt, who blocked five shots as the Pipers tore away from the Wildcats in the second half. There was also Kara Poirier, who continues to move up the school's all-time assist list. The senior had six assists on the week and added a bonus seven rebounds in Northfield.

HU will need all of this and more against the Blazers, who shook off a 13-point loss to the Cobbers three days before, to clamp down on the Tommies, holding them to a season low 39.6 per cent shooting from the field. They also showed a balanced attack with four players finishing in double digit scoring. 

Game time is 7:30 p.m.