The Saint Mary women's basketball team is having a good week. On Wednesday, the KCAC announced the All-Conference Awards and three Spires received honors. Imani Dixon and Kelsey Switzer were both named All-KCAC Honorable Mention. Switzer was also a member of the All-Freshman team which included fellow freshman Spire, Rachel Emde. Switzer was named the Freshman of the Year in the conference as well.
On Thursday, Saint Mary upset #25 Tabor in the quarterfinals of the KCAC Tournament on Thursday night in Hillsboro, Kan. Tabor was the first seed in the tournament and the Spires were the eight seed. The Bluejays had bested the Spires in both of their previous meetings this season. This one mattered the most, however.
The win marked the first time Saint Mary won a KCAC Tournament game in ten years, and the biggest win in Head Coach Bruce Erickson's two year career leading the program. Rachel Emde (who was also named the KCAC Defensive Player of the Week on Monday) followed up her All-Freshman Team selection with an outstanding performance in the win giiving Saint Mary 20 points and six rebounds. Shanice Palmer was equally impressive scoring 20 points and pulling down eight rebounds for the Spires.
Saint Mary opened the game by yielding five early Tabor points and trailed 5-0 just over two minutes into play. Tabor would push their lead to seven with 5:19 remaining in the first half. The Spires would cut into the lead the rest of the half until Mariah Marusak nailed a three point shot with 10 seconds left in the half to give Saint Mary a one point lead into halftime.
Tabor grabbed the lead right back with the first bucket of the second half and would lead Saint Mary until just under nine minutes remained in the game. Emde's basket with 8:43 on the clock put the Spires back in front. Saint Mary would eventually lead by five points after two Palmer free throws. Tabor then clawed back to tie the game 49-49 with 2:27 remaining.
From there, Saint Mary regained the lead as Palmer scored five consecutive points and the Spires led 54-49. Tabor would hit a free throw and a three point shot to cut the lead to one point with six seconds left. Switzer would be fouled and go to the free throw line hitting both attempts to give Saint Mary a three point lead with one second left. Imani Dixon sealed the win with a steal on the inbounds.
The win advances Saint Mary to the semifinals of the KCAC Tournament where they will take on Friends at 6pm on Saturday night in Wichita, Kan. The Spires clipped Friends 68-65 in their most recent matchup at home. Saint Mary lost a tight contest to the Falcons on the road earlier in the season 64-59. Friends beat Ottawa in the quarterfinals 73-50. With a win, Saint Mary would advance the KCAC Championship game for the first time in the history of the program. That game will be played at Hartman Arena in Wichita, Kan. at 8pm on Monday, March 2. You can view the entire KCAC Tournament bracket here.
