DULUTH, MINN.--The Hamline University women's basketball team secured a 61-52 victory over St. Scholastica in Duluth on Saturday afternoon. This win continues Hamline's dominance over the Saints, as they are now 7-1 against them since the Saints became MIAC members in the 2021-22 season.

The Pipers improve to 12-5, 7-3 MIAC, while the Saints fall to 9-8, 6-4 MIAC.

Hamline 61, St. Scholastica 52

The first quarter ended with a narrow lead for the Saints, 15-14. St. Scholastica started strong with a layup from Kloey Lind and a fast-break layup by Ava Haus, taking an early 4-0 lead. Hamline responded with Camille Cummings scoring a layup and a 3-pointer, contributing to a brief 5-4 lead. The teams exchanged leads multiple times, with Cummings hitting another three-pointer for Hamline, but Gabby Voigt and Kloey Lind contributed with layups to maintain the Saints' slight edge. Both teams committed several fouls, but the Saints' rebounding advantage, with 11 total boards compared to Hamline's four, helped them finish the frame ahead.

In the second quarter, the Saints outscored Hamline 23-15, driven by a strong performance in the paint with 12 points. The period began with Kloey Lind scoring a layup, and Jackie Johnson adding a three-pointer shortly after, increasing the lead to 21-14 with 7:38 on the clock. Cummings responded with a 3-pointer, but the Saints extended their advantage with another 3-pointer from Daysia Simmons, making it 30-21 at the 5:04 mark. Despite a late 3-pointer by Kate Trachsel, the Saints maintained control with consistent scoring, including consecutive layups by Kloey Lind to close out the half leading 38-29.

In the third quarter, the Pipers outscored the Saints 15-5, overcoming an early deficit. Josie Schmidt scored a layup at 7:27 to bring Hamline within seven points, and Yasmeen Abed's jumper at 6:06 cut the margin to five at 40-33. Cummings hit two free throws at 5:20, followed by a layup at 1:59 to further narrow the gap to 41-40. Josie Wiebusch's layup in the final seconds gave Hamline their first lead of the quarter, securing a 44-43 advantage.

In the fourth quarter, the Saints initially gained a lead with a layup from Kloey Lind and a jumper from Ava Haus, making the score 47-44. However, the Pipers responded with a strong defensive effort, highlighted by Cummings' layup at 6:42 that narrowed the score to 47-46. Yasmeen Abed then took over offensively, scoring multiple times, including a crucial layup that pushed Hamline's lead to 51-47 with 3:30 left. The Saints faced foul trouble, committing eight in the frame, which allowed Hamline to capitalize at the free-throw line, with Cummings and Kate Trachsel both converting free throws to extend their lead, culminating in a 61-52 victory.

Camille Cummings led Hamline with a career-high 25 points on 8-of-12 shooting, including 3-for-3 from beyond the arc, and a perfect 6-for-6 from the free-throw line. Kate Trachsel contributed significantly with 12 points, hitting four free throws and two 3-pointers, while also recording two steals. Josie Schmidt made a defensive impact with four steals and added two points. Marina LaFreniere was effective under the basket, pulling down three offensive rebounds and adding four points, alongside two steals.

Kloey Lind led the Saints with a standout performance, scoring 21 points on 10-of-13 shooting from the field. Jackie Johnson contributed eight points, including two 3-pointers, showing her range beyond the arc. Ava Haus was also significant on both ends, scoring 12 points and adding five rebounds. Jada Bierschbach and Ava Haus each recorded two steals, showcasing their defensive prowess. Gabby Voigt was a key playmaker with four assists and also contributed eight rebounds, providing a well-rounded effort.

Hamline shot .429 (21-of-49) while St. Scholastica finished .435 (20-of-46).

The Pipers will host St. Mary's at Hutton Arena on Wednesday, January 29 at 5:30 p.m.