Sophomore Taylor Young scored 22 points and the No. 13-ranked Tommies (23-1 overall, 21-0 MIAC) used a 25-2 advantage in bench scoring to post a 71-56 win over the visiting Royals (14-10, 12-9) in Wednesday's MIAC women's basketball play at UST's Schoenecker Arena.

St. Thomas, which overcame 29 points by BU senior guard Taylor Sheley, improved to 10-0 at home and extended its win streak to 23 since a season-opening road loss to ranked UW-Stevens Point back on Nov. 16.

UST loses the regular season Saturday at home against St. Mary's. With a victory, the Toms would become just the seventh conference basketball team -- men or women -- to close at 20-0 or 22-0 in the conference standings. Three St. Thomas and one St. Ben's team have done it on the women's side, and two UST men's squads have run the table.

UST led just 40-37 with 14:30 to play but uncorked a 21-2 run to build a 61-40 lead with 7:20 remaining. On the game, the Tommies had a 25-4 margin of points off turnovers.

Sophomore center Maggie Weiers had eight points and 11 rebounds, and senior forward Sarah Smith added nine points and six boards. Off the bench, Kellie Ring had nine points and four steals, and Haley Loesch had six points and eight rebounds.