The Colorado College women's basketball team opened its Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference slate with a complete performance on Saturday afternoon, using a dominant defensive effort and a balanced scoring attack to defeat St. Thomas (TX) 65–41 inside Reid Arena.

The Tigers controlled the game from the opening tip, outscoring the Celts in every quarter and holding UST to just 25 percent shooting from the floor and 1-of-22 from three. CC built a 15–8 lead after the first quarter before stretching it to 30–21 at halftime.

Senior Andie Will powered CC with 15 points, adding eight rebounds, three assists and two steals in an efficient 21 minutes. Freshman Rayna Welsch scored 10 points, going 3-of-8 from the field and 4-of-4 at the line, while senior Kayla Mackel and junior JuJu Garcia each contributed 10 points to round out a balanced scoring day. CC also owned the glass from start to finish, finishing with a 51–36 rebounding advantage, including 21 offensive boards that repeatedly extended possessions.

CC broke the game open in the third quarter, pouring in 20 points behind crisp ball movement and four made threes in the period. The Tigers' lead grew to as many as 28 points late in the fourth.

CC shot 41 percent from the field, 30 percent from three, and 71 percent at the line, while the Tigers' defense forced UST into a cold afternoon from deep. CC's bench also contributed 17 points and helped maintain the pace throughout. The third quarter was the Tigers' best-shooting quarter. They made 45.45 percent of their shots from the floor, including 66.7 percent from long range (4-6). 

With the win, CC improves to 5–3 overall and 1–0 in SCAC play. The Tigers return to Reid Arena to host Hardin–Simmons University on Thursday, Dec. 18 at 3 p.m. MT