Morris, Minn. – Behind yet another in a season of dominant performances from Emily Mehr, the Minnesota Morris women's basketball team clinched a first round home game in next week's Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) Tournament with its 77-54 win over St. Scholastica tonight (Feb. 17).

After scoring 30 for the first career time last week, Mehr set another career high with 31 tonight, going 10-of-15 from the floor, including a 3-of-3 mark from behind the arc as well as an 8-of-8 performance at the line. Backing her up on the leader board was Alyssa Silva with 14 and Kendra Wycoff with 10 as the Cougars topped the 70-mark for the 16th time on the season.

Morris (16-8, 11-2 UMAC) wins for the seventh straight time, overcoming a slow start to open up their lead to as much as 12 in the first half.  The teams traded baskets and the lead for the first 12 minutes of the half, before Mehr and Sylva combined for four straight free throws to put the Cougars up for good.

After taking the lead, the Cougars extended it with precise free throw shooting, taking advantage of their 14 trips and turning it into 13 points as they built up their lead.

On the night the Cougars went 25-of-28 at the line, and in addition to Mehr, Sylva was also a perfect 6-of-6. Three total players went to the line without a miss, while no player missed more than once.

After starting the second half up 10 at 40-30, the Cougars quickly stretched the lead to 20, getting there on eight straight points from Mehr, capped by back-to-back threes at 15:13 to go up 53-33. A possession later, two free throws from Sylva capped a Cougar run of 15 straight points and a 15-to-2 run to open the half.

They would lead by double digits the rest of the way, avenging their last loss which came on the road at the hands of St. Scholastica (11-13, 9-4 UMAC) in overtime. The loss also snaps a three-game winning streak for the Saints.

The Cougars out-rebounded the Saints 39-to-33, led by 11 from Abby Fraogdt who hits double figures in the category for the eighth time, something only four other conference players can say.

Assured of a home playoff game when the UMAC Tournament opens next Wednesday (Feb. 22), the Cougars also remain tied in first in the conference standings, with Martin Luther also winning. Who will visit the P.E. Center in the first round remains to be seen, with the playoff picture set to clear up after tomorrow's regular season finale.

The Cougars host Northland at 3:00 p.m., and a win would mean a share of their third straight UMAC title, something not done since Northland won a share of five straight from 2000-04. A win and a Martin Luther loss would give the Cougars their third title outright, a feat accomplished just once, back in 1994-96 by Northwestern.