Gene's Blog: Booth blocks her way into record books

February 04, 2010

One record down, one to go.

St. Thomas junior center Rachel Booth broke a school record for blocked shots with eight in Wednesday's 69-60 victory over St. Catherine. And Booth could own another school record as soon as this Saturday.

Despite being slowed by foul trouble, Booth finished with 17 points, eight rebounds and eight blocks in just 27 minutes of the Wednesday night victory.

The old UST single-game record of seven blocks was set by All-American Laurie Trow 19 seasons ago. That record was tied by Erica Opdahl in 2003.

Booth, who played the last two seasons at Division II St. Cloud State, has blocked 58 shots in just 19 games with the Tommies. That total moves her into the top 10 nationally in Division III. What's remarkable is that 44 of those blocks have come in the last eight games.

If you think that stat is ridiculous, here's another crazy fact -- Booth is now playing for her fifth different head coach in her last five seasons of hoops. She had different coaches in both her junior and senior seasons at DeLaSalle, then at St. Cloud State played for different head coaches in 2007-08 and in 2008-09.

Tommie head coach Ruth Sinn said Booth is finding a good comfort level. "She's playing with a lot more confidence and is much more comfortable now," Sinn said. "She's letting the offenses come to her. A lot of shot blockers get too anxious but she's waiting and getting her feet set and using her good reactions. Overall, she's just more poised with the basketball and is realizing she doesn't have to make a split-second decision when she touches the ball."

The 58 blocks are one off the Tommies' season record of 59 set 19 years ago by Suzy Bouquet. The total already moves her to seventh on the UST career list.

In the Toms' recent 7-1 stretch, Booth has averaged 20 points, nine rebounds and 5.5 blocks.

Only one MIAC player has had more than eight blocks in a game over the last eight seasons.

Booth was named MIAC co-Player of the Week last Monday. When she scores 14 or more points this season, the Tommies are 10-1.

St. Thomas has won five in a row and nine of its last 11 games to climb to 15-5 on the season. The Tommies can secure a playoff berth with one more victory.

UST is home for its next three games, all at Concordia University's Gangelhoff Center. Saturday, the Toms face Carleton (1 p.m.); next Wednesday they'll play Bethel (7:45 p.m.); and Feb. 13 the foe is St. Benedict (3 p.m.).

Classroom success

The St. Thomas football team's record-setting 2009 season recently yielded additional honors. The Tommies had 16 players named to the MIAC Academic All-Academic Team. -- the most of any MIAC fall team. 

This elite academic award is given to sophomores, juniors and seniors with a cumulative 3.50 or better grade-point average. Recipients miust have played in at least half of the team's games.

UST had a conference-best three players make both first-team All-MIAC and Academic All-Conference -- Ben Wartman, Zach Sturm and Fritz Waldvogel.

Wartman was one of only two Division III players nationally to make first-team All-America and first-team Academic All-America.

"Honors like these are tangible reminders of the quality and overall commitment to excel in every facet of the student-athlete experience," UST coach Glenn Caruso said. "The types of kids we attract and develop here at St. Thomas are highly competitive young men who continually strive for greatness in everything they do. Their performance on the field speaks for itself. These young men are a part of a family that orchestrated the nation's biggest turnaround in placing UST among the country's elite as displayed by their top-five finish this season, and it is exciting to see that commitment and focus emanate into all they do."

Puck parity

Men's hockey has been the MIAC's most unpredictible sport over the last decade. In seven of the last 10 seasons, the conference regular-season champ has been unable to win the postseason playoff. Three times in the decade a team reached the NCAA championship without winning the MIAC title.

The Tommies are involved in a wild scramble for playoff spots. At the top, Gustavus and Hamline have a key series next weekend. The Gusties have the inside track to win the title, and if they can hold off the Pipers they will become the sixth different school in six seasons to win the regular-season title. St. John's (2004-05), St. Thomas (2005-06), Bethel (2006-07), Hamline (2007-08) and St. Olaf (2008-09) have won the last five titles. In that span, only Bethel swept both the regular-season and playoff crowns.

Good omen?

St. Thomas hockey and basketball teams are 21-2-1 in conference play since Jan. 16. The hockey teams have a good test this weekend as they face St. Olaf, while the basketball teams host Carleton Saturday afternoon at Concordia U's Gangelhoff Center.

This will be the first home men's basketball since J-term ended, so hopefully the Carleton and Feb. 17 Gustavus game will draw more students. to create a better home-court atmosphere.

Coach Steve Fritz' Tommies are ranked in the top 25 in eight categories nationally, including top-15 spots in 3-point percentage, scoring defense and fewest turnovers.

UST (seven wins in row) and Carleton (six wins in a row) are the conference's hottest teams. The Knights have three solid road wins thus far over Gustavus, St. John's and rival St. Olaf. In the first meeting between the teams, Carleton streaked to a 15-1 lead in the first seven minutes but UST rallied to win 60-51.