Senior Kaia Porter scored 20 points, junior Noelle Tomes added a career-best 19 points and a late St. Thomas surge broke open a tight battle in Saturday's 67-54 women's basketball victory over Bethel in Arden Hills.

Coach Ruth Sinn's Tommies closed their final season in the MIAC and in Division III hoops with a 6-1 overall record on the condensed season.

While no conference champion will be crowned, the Purple are assured of at least a share of the league's best winning percentage. The Toms went 4-0 at home and 2-1 away this season, winning their last three games by double-digit margins.

The Toms, who outscored BU 24-9 from 3-point range, never trailed but needed to fend off several Bethel runs. The Royals pulled within 55-54 and later missed a go-ahead shot with 2:16 left in the fourth quarter.

But St. Thomas shut the door as freshman guard Katelyn Stanley scored six points during a game-closing 12-0 run. That surge included 8-of-8 made at the foul line by the Purple.

Stanley closed with nine points and 11 rebounds. Senior Macy Hatlestad had eight points, seven rebounds, four steals and three assists, and sophomore Abby Mackenthun chipped in seven points off the bench.

Elizabeth Schwarz scored a game-high 23 points for Bethel (3-4).