Backup Spaulding aids Tommie women's victory

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Junior Lauren Fischer (21 points) and sophomore Hannah Spaulding (20 points) had career-best scoring days to lead No. 6-ranked St. Thomas Women's Basketball to Sunday's 76-65 home victory over previously-unbeaten and No. 22-ranked UW-Stevens Point.

The Tommies (3-0), playing in their first home game of 2016-17, sank 22 of 24 free throws and had only 10 turnovers. Both teams shot near 44 percent from the floor.

Point (4-1) had a 36-28 rebounding edge, including 17 offensive boards. But the visitors converted just 13-of-20 foul shots and 4-of-18 from behind the arc.

The Pointers trimmed a 16-point second-quarter deficit to three at the end of the third period, 53-50, but never got closer.

Fischer sank a pair of 3-pointers and made two free throws in the final to fuel an 8-4 run that pushed the Tommie lead to 63-54 with 6:16 remaining. The Pointers never got closer than six thereafter. UST made its first 13 free throws and then sank 9 of 11 in the last 90 seconds.

Spaulding averaged under three points a contest in her first 24 career games off the bench but exploded on Sunday. She made her first eight shots and also made all four free throws. for 20 points in 21 minutes.

UST All-America Kaitlin Langer was slowed by foul trouble. She finished with 10 points and four rebounds in 19 minutes. Lucia Renikoff added 10 points, five assists and two steals.

Autumn Hennes had 20 points and seven rebounds, Taylor Douglas scored 13 and Lauren Anklam added 11 points and five assists for Point.

The Tommies open conference play Wednesday at Macalester (7 p.m.).