ST. PAUL, Minn. - In their third meeting with a ranked opponent this season, the Hamline women's basketball team (14-6, 9-6 MIAC) found themselves within striking distance at the end of the game, but would end up falling short, as #20 St. Thomas (16-4, 12-3 MIAC) claimed a 65-57 win at Hutton Arena on Wednesday night.
 
The Pipers battled throughout, with the game being tied at 51 apiece in the final five minutes. The Tommies would close out the game strong, however, finishing on a 14-6 stretch of scoring, including making four free throws at the end to seal it.
 
Senior Reilly Geistfeld led Hamline in scoring, ending with 24 points, as well as adding six rebounds (a team-high), three assists, and two steals. First year Lydia Lecher also finished in double figures, with 13 points and senior Kaeli Stayer chipped in with eight.
 
A five-point scoring run at the end of the first quarter gave St. Thomas a 21-14 advantage after the first 10 minutes of play. The Pipers bounced back in the second quarter, though, outscoring the Tommies 14-9 to make it a two-point game at halftime with the score at 30-28 in favor of UST.
 
A put-back layup from Geistfeld late in the third quarter put the Pipers up by six, but the Tommies would score the final six points of the third to tie the game up at 42 all going into the final quarter.
 
St. Thomas kept that third quarter momentum going into the fourth, adding another six unanswered points to make it 48-42 in their favor. The Pipers rallied for the next seven points to regain a lead at 49-48, being capped off by a Lecher fastbreak layup at 4:16.
 
Later in the quarter the Tommies would score seven in a row to lead 60-53, and the Pipers were unable to overcome that deficit in the final minute of play. HU did get the game within four with 38 seconds left, but St. Thomas kept up the defensive pressure, not allowing the Pipers to score again.
 
Efforts from sophomore Brynne Rolland and junior Macy Hatlestad led the Tommies, as they combined for 49 of their team's 65 points. Rolland ended with a game-high 29 points and Hatlestad put up 20.
 
The Pipers will play again at home on Saturday, February 8, as they host St. Catherine for a 3:00 p.m. game.