Senior forward Sarah Smith had 17 points and a career-best 15 rebounds to lead the host Tommies (8-1 overall, 6-0 MIAC) to their eighth consecutive victory with a 69-40 defeat of the visiting Blazers (5-4, 2-4) in Monday night's women's basketball play at UST's Schoenecker Arena.  

The Tommies kept pace atop the conference standings with co-leader Bethel (6-0), a 10-point winner at home over Concordia-Moorhead.  

UST raced to a 17-1 lead in the game's first 6:30 and led 30-16 at halftime. The Blazers pulled within 33-24 early in the second half and trailed by only 11 with 12:20 to play. But a 13-2 Tommie run helped blow open the game.  

Both teams showed the rust of their three-week layoffs. St. Ben's made just three first-half field goals and shot only 22 percent from the floor (12-of-54).  

Maggie Weiers had nine points and 12 rebounds for the Tommies, who survived 39 percent shooting and 20 turnovers. UST received 30 bench points and outrebounded CSB by a 50-38 margin.  

St. Thomas plays Wednesday night at St. Catherine.