Was at the Butler Center on this Wednesday evening to take in the neighborhood clash between host St. Kate's and powerhouse UST located just down the street aways. In all honesty I knew this one had the potential for a blowout and in the end, that prophecy was realized.
Still, the feisty Wildcats made a game of it early on. Freshman Jenna Mistler got the home team on the board first at the 19:39 mark when she snuck inside for a score. That was quickly answered by the MIAC's three-point shooting Queen, UST senior Ali Johnson, with her "3" from the right corner at the 18:48 mark. But St. Kate's standout freshman Sarina Baker out of Minnehaha Academy drilled the first of her NBA-range "3's" a bit later to bolster the 'Cats. UST did manage to build a small lead at 13-7 by the 13:55 mark but another one of those freshman phenoms from St. Kate's - this time Jule Muegge - drilled a "3" from the right wing at the 13:30 mark and the 'Cats pulled even at 15-all when Baker hit another long-range "3" at the 11:51 mark.
Predictably, however, this is exactly where UST made their initial big run to begin the rout. Senior guard Carolyn Dienhart started the bloodshed at the 11:33 mark with a "3" and followed that up with another short-range jumper a bit later. Sophomore sensation Taylor Young scored off the glass at the 10:13 mark to make it a 24-15 game in favor of the Tommies. Perhaps just as important, UST was employing full- and half-court presses that were forcing the 'Cats into several mistakes that resulted in easy UST scores. Senior post Sarah Smith (certainly still playing with a heavy heart) scored twice at the 7:23 and 6:39 marks and then the willowy-blonde three point Queen (Ali Johnson, of course) hit another one of her trademark "3's" at the 6:13 mark. Baker countered with another "3" of her own at the 5:35 mark but by this time UST was already up 36-20. Reserve freshman post Anna Smith out of Bloomington Jefferson also managed a couple of nice moves inside (as well as finishes) that helped give UST a commanding 51-22 lead at the intermission.
Not much changed when the second half began as UST continued the artillery barrage. Dienhart knocked down a jumper along the baseline at the 18:37 mark and Young finished in transition at the 17:13 mark. Sophomore post Maggie Weiers scored inside at the 16:11 mark and Dienhart connected with a lay-up at the 15:30 mark for a 63-26 lead. Even worse for the Wildcats, Mistler went down at the 15:11 mark with an injury that left her crying on the floor; she had rolled her right ankle that left her in considerable pain (I did that one time before meself and, believe me, it hurts like an MF'er). With UST up by a 40-point cushion, Head Coach Ruth Sinn called off the dogs and put in her subs (who, by the way, aren't too shabby, either). St. Kate's freshman Mary Neumann did give the home fans something to cheer about when she nailed a "3" at the 13:19 mark as did junior Adele Simerson-Wallfred when she scored on the ensuing possession. But UST continued its assault as Anna Smith continued to show why she's UST's next young hope by doing more damage inside. Freshman Laura Margarit also finished a Tommie transition at the 11:27 mark. Freshmen Jen (Is There A "Dockter" In The House?) Dockter also got into the books with her lay-up at the 6:09 mark as did Hannah Hughes when she nailed a "3" from the left corner at the 4:21 mark. Yet another freshman post for UST, Abbey Knisely, got her name in the box score as well with a rebound and putback with just 2:18 left that enabled UST to win by a final margin of 91-47.
Afterward, Sinn emphasized to me again the importance of consistency for her team (just as she did back in October when I visited one of her team's first practices). I can agree with that as UST did have some blips last year that may have cost them in the long-run. UST just has so much talent and depth this year that I think the bigger question is - Can they make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament that will get them - and the MIAC - back into the national spotlight? I personally think this team is more than capable of it but I do wonder how they'll respond if they find themselves in a tight contest with someone late in the game. I still want to see this team get tested to see how they'll respond.
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