SAINT PAUL, Minn. (Interstat) — In a pivotal Summit League clash between teams fighting to reach .500, the Saint Thomas Tommies used a decisive third-quarter surge and clutch late free throws from Alyssa Sand to hold off a frantic Oral Roberts rally for a 71-66 victory in women’s basketball on Wednesday night at Schoenecker Arena.

The game, witnessed by 406 fans, saw both teams enter and exit with identical 12-12 overall records, underscoring its importance in the conference standings. Despite being outplayed in several hustle categories, the Tommies leveraged superior efficiency and a key stretch after halftime to secure the win.

Oral Roberts, led by Jalei Oglesby’s 17 points, started strong, matching the Tommies basket-for-basket in a high-paced first quarter that ended with Saint Thomas ahead 19-17. The Golden Eagles continued their gritty play in the second, forcing 12 first-half turnovers from the Tommies to stay within 34-31 at the intermission.

The complexion of the game shifted dramatically in the third quarter. The Tommies, who had been plagued by ball-handling issues, settled into their offense. They outscored Oral Roberts 21-9 in the period, stretching their lead to as many as 15 points. The Golden Eagles went cold, shooting just 4 of 19 from the field in the quarter, while Saint Thomas found its rhythm from deep, hitting three 3-pointers.

Saint Thomas built its lead on the strength of balanced scoring and critical advantages in shot-making. The Tommies shot 44.8% from the field and 36% from 3-point range, compared to Oral Roberts’ 40% and a frigid 21.1% from beyond the arc. The Tommies also won the battle on the glass, grabbing 12 offensive rebounds that led to 14 second-chance points.

Sand, a 6-foot-3 sophomore from Albany, Minnesota, anchored the Tommies with 15 points, three assists and two blocks, controlling the paint defensively. She was complemented by backcourt mates Jada Hood, who had 13 points and seven assists, and Mikayla Werner, who added 14 points. Laura Hauge provided a key spark off the bench with nine points.

The Golden Eagles, demonstrating the tenacity that saw them force 19 total turnovers and record 14 steals, mounted a furious comeback in the final period. They erupted for 23 fourth-quarter points, primarily by attacking the basket, where they scored 40 of their 66 total points in the paint. A driving layup by Oglesby and a 3-pointer from Gentry Baldwin in the final minute cut the deficit to 69-66 with seven seconds remaining.

However, Sand iced the game at the free-throw line. Fouled on a defensive rebound after Baldwin’s three, she calmly sank both free throws with four seconds left to restore a two-possession lead and seal the victory. Baldwin’s desperation 3-pointer at the buzzer missed, ending Oral Roberts’ comeback bid.

Beyond Oglesby, Ari Gordon scored 13 points for Oral Roberts, while Baldwin finished with 12. The Golden Eagles’ offensive struggles were encapsulated by their 6-of-15 shooting from the free-throw line and their offensive rating of 80.4 points per 100 possessions, well below the Tommies’ mark of 98.4.

The most important part of the game was Saint Thomas’s commanding third-quarter performance. After a sloppy first half kept Oral Roberts within striking distance, the Tommies tightened their execution, capitalized on Oral Roberts’ shooting drought, and engineered a 21-9 quarter. That 12-point swing provided the crucial cushion that ultimately withstood Oral Roberts’ late-game charge. Without that period of control, the Tommies’ late free throws likely would not have been enough.

Both teams continue Summit League play on Saturday. Saint Thomas will host Omaha, while Oral Roberts returns home to face Denver. The teams are scheduled for a rematch in Tulsa on Feb. 28.