Moorhead, Minn.– Forward Elaine Warner’s 18 points and 7 rebounds off the bench helped ignite the No. 15-ranked St. Thomas women’s basketball team to a 71-56 victory over Concordia College Thursday at Memorial Auditorium, sending them to the MIAC championship Saturday.

The Tommies and Cobbers traded baskets throughout the first half, but guard Jenna Dockter’s layup paired with a Warner 3-pointer late in the first half gave St. Thomas a 29-28 lead heading into the locker room.

Dockter scored 11 points in the game and added 2 rebounds, while forward Taylor Young chipped in 9 points, 4 assists and 3 rebounds.

St. Thomas started the second half on fire, going on a 9-0 run with baskets from Warner, guard Kelly Brandenburg and guard Katie Stone. The Cobbers never got back into the game as the Tommies continued to knock down shots and limited Concordia’s runs.

Late in the game, guard Laura Margarit and Brandenburg each knocked down jump shots to close out the game for St. Thomas. Margarit added 6 points for the Tommies and pulled down 7 boards.

Despite being out-rebounded 34-38, St. Thomas shot 50 percent from the field and from downtown, compared to Concordia’s 36 percent from the field and 25 percent from three.

St. Thomas will travel to Winona, Minn. Saturday to face St. Mary’s in the MIAC championship, after St. Mary’s defeated Bethel 94-63 Thursday night.

Earlier in the season St. Thomas fell to the St. Mary’s Cardinals on their home court 54-56, but defeated the Cardinals 65-48 at Schoenecker Arena in their second matchup this season.

Kyle Jonas can be reached at jona7984@stthomas.edu