Senior forward Sarah Smith had 14 points and nine rebounds and the host Tommies (28-1) used a 46-32 rebounding advantage to help hold off Coe (Iowa), 51-45, in Saturday night's second-round NCAA playoff game at UST's Schoenecker Arena.

St. Thomas ran its season winning streak to 28 and improved to 15-0 at home on the year. UST advances to the NCAA round of 16 for the first time in 11 seasons.

It was the 19th time in 29 games that UST has held an opponent under 55 points, as the Tommies allow just 51 ppg. St. Thomas also pulled down 16 offensive rebounds.

The Kohawks (21-8) never led in the final 36:50 but stayed within six most of the game. Leslie Ware led Coe with 15 points, while Kayla Waskow and Megan Hayes each scored nine points.

St. Thomas made 11-of-15 free throws in the final 5:30 to hold off a late Coe surge. Soph guard Kelly Brandenburg scored nine of her 11 points in the second half and helped the Toms post a 16-10 edge in bench points. Taylor Young added eight points, seven assists, four steals and four rebounds in 37 minutes. Maggie Weiers contributed seven points and nine rebounds.

The game's frenetic pace with both teams often pressing took a toll on the shooting. UST shot just 33 percent, including 1-of-13 from 3-point range. Coe managed just 34 percent from the field and only 9-of-16 at the foul line but committed 18 turnovers.