Hamline (5-11, 3-10 in the MIAC) led 48-47 after a Kelly Lines three-pointer with 3:29 left in the contest, but St. Thomas (7-9, 5-7) scored the next six points in the game to seal the victory.
The Pipers would cut the deficit to three on three separate occasions. However, the Tommies were 6 of 6 from the line over the last 39 second s to get the win. The Tommies were a perfect 17 of 17 from the charity line in the game.
Both teams struggled from the floor in the final 20 minutes as the Pipers shot just 27 percent from the field (8-30). The Tommies were worse, shooting 24 percent (8-33).
Hamline was held without a field goal over the first 10 minutes of the second half, finally breaking through with a three-pointer by Kelly Lines with 10:00 left in the game. However, St. Thomas could only extend their 32-31 halftime lead to 41-31 before the Pipers went on an 11-0 run over 2:54.
Junior Laurisa Ewert paced Hamline with 13 points and 13 rebounds. Junior Carolyn Korchik added 11 points while first-year Ashley Busch chipped in 10 points. Lines had nine points and 10 rebounds.
Opdahl netted 18 points on 8 of 20 shooting for the Tommies. She also grabbed 10 rebounds. Guard Vel Williams netted 10 points.
Hamline jumped on the Tommies early with a 20-6 spurt over the first 5:30 of the game. Point guard Erin Petrich netted seven of her nine points in the span. St. Thomas answered by outscoring Hamline 26-11 the rest of the way.