MINNEAPOLIS -- The No. 14-ranked Augsburg University women's basketball team defeated the No. 20-ranked University of St. Thomas 73-61 in a Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference semifinal game on Thursday evening at Si Melby Hall. With the win, Augsburg advances to the MIAC playoff championship game for the second consecutive season.

THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Augsburg 73, St. Thomas 61
LOCATION: Si Melby Hall, Minneapolis, Minn.
RECORDS: Augsburg 22-4 overall, St. Thomas 21-6 overall

HOW IT HAPPENED
• The first half was a back-and-forth affair that ended with the two teams notched at 32-32. Augsburg turned up the defensive pressure in the third quarter and was slowly able to pull away for the victory. With the win, Augsburg advances to play at Bethel University for the MIAC title game. 
• Augsburg was led offensively by Tamira McLemore (SR, Eagan, Minn./Eagan HS), who finished with a game-high 26 points on a 9-of-16 shooting effort. McLemore connected on a key three-pointer at the end of the third quarter that sparked the Auggies. She added a game-high four steals and dished out four assists.
• Posting one of her strongest performances of the season, Camryn Speese (SR, Bloomington, Minn./DeLaSalle HS) finished with a 14-point, 13-rebound double-double. It was her fourth double-double of the season and ninth of her Auggie career. 
• Kaezha Wubben (SR, Minneapolis, Minn./Hopkins HS) continued her strong play of late, finishing with 15 points on 7-of-11 shooting. Wubben is averaging 15.3 points per-game over the team's last four contests.
• Also scoring in double figures for the Auggies was Aiza Wilson (Minneapolis, Minn./DeLaSalle HS), who finished with 12 points, connecting on 4-of-6 from the floor and 3-of-5 from three-point range. Arianna Jones (SR, Brooklyn Park, Minn./Osseo HS) dished out a team-best five assists to go along with a pair of rebounds.
• Augsburg connected on 44.3 percent (27-of-61) of its shot attempts, while the Tommies hit 52.6 percent (20-of-38) from the floor.
• St. Thomas posted a 35-26 advantage on the boards, but the Auggies won the turnover battle, forcing 26, while only committing nine. Augsburg converted this advantage to a 29-10 advantage in points off-turnovers.

FOR THE FOES
• St. Thomas was led by a 23-point effort from Brynne Rolland, who finished 10-for-10 from the floor, and added eight rebounds.
• Also finishing in double figures for the Tommies was Macy Hatlestad, who finished with 10 points, while adding a pair of rebounds.

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE
• With the victory, Augsburg tied its program record for single season victories (22).
• The win marks the first time in program history that the Auggies have posted three consecutive victories over the Tommies.
• Augsburg's victory over the Tommies marks the first time in 10 seasons that St. Thomas will not advance to the MIAC playoff championship game.

UP NEXT
• Augsburg now advances to the MIAC title game on Saturday (2/28) at Bethel University. Tip-off is scheduled for 3 p.m., at the Robertson Center in Arden Hills, Minn.