DULUTH, Minn. – For the first time since joining the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in 2021-22, the St. Scholastica women's basketball team is headed to the MIAC Playoffs.
The Saints (16-9 overall, 11-7 MIAC) earned the No. 6 seed after finishing sixth in the final conference standings and will travel to face No. 3 seed Bethel University on Tuesday, February 24 at 7:00 p.m. in Arden Hills.
Tuesday's game will mark the program's first women's basketball postseason appearance since February 19, 2018, when the Saints faced Northwestern (Minn.) in the UMAC Playoffs.
Tuesday's matchup also marks the third meeting of the season between St. Scholastica and Bethel. In the regular season series, the home team won both contests. The Saints claimed a 65-63 victory in Duluth on January 17 before Bethel responded with a 77-71 win in Arden Hills on February 7.
To support the team in its first MIAC postseason appearance, St. Scholastica has organized a fan bus for students interested in traveling to Tuesday's game. Travel and ticket costs will be covered for St. Scholastica students who wish to attend and cheer on the Saints. Interested students should contact the Saints Women's Basketball Instagram account via direct message for additional information and to reserve a spot.
St. Scholastica pieced together one of its strongest seasons in the MIAC era, posting a .640 overall winning percentage and going 11-7 in conference play. The Saints were especially dominant inside Reif Gym, beginning the year 9-0 at home before suffering their first home loss in the final week of the regular season. They finished 9-2 on their home floor.
The Saints enter postseason play averaging 64.3 points per game while holding opponents to just 60.2, good for a +4.1 scoring margin. St. Scholastica has thrived from beyond the arc all season, knocking down 7.4 three-pointers per game.
Sophomore guard Ava Haus (St. Michael, MN/St. Michael-Albertville High School) headlines the Saints' offensive attack. Haus finished the regular season as the MIAC overall leader in scoring at 18.8 points per game and also led the conference in three-point field goals per game (2.8). She connected on 70 triples this season and scored 469 total points, cementing herself as one of the league's premier perimeter threats.
Evie Schmitz (Burnsville, MN/St. Louis Park) has provided a steady presence alongside Haus, finishing second on the team at 13.7 points per game. Schmitz led the MIAC in overall three-point percentage at 37.2 percent (61-for-164), while Haus ranked fourth in the conference at 32.7 percent, giving the Saints one of the most dangerous shooting duos in the league.
Inside, Kloey Lind (Pine City, MN/Pine City HS) anchored the Saints on the glass and in the paint, averaging 13.6 points and a team-best 8.0 rebounds per game. Lind shot an efficient 52.6 percent from the field this season, finishing second in the MIAC in overall field goal percentage, highlighting her consistency and physical presence around the rim.
Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday night in Arden Hills, with the winner advancing to the MIAC Semifinals. Video broadcasts of all MIAC Playoff games will be pay-per-view. Additional details for MIAC Playoff Basketball can be found via the official MIAC release.
