STEVENS POINT, Wis. -- Junior guard Alex Leach (Gurnee, Ill./ Warren) scored 15 of her game-high 17 points in the first half as the University of Chicago defeated the University of St. Thomas (Minn.) 62-59 in the opening round of the 2008 NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Championship Friday at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.

Leach hit four three-point baskets in the game's opening period as the Maroons (21-5) built a 42-31 advantage at the intermission. The Maroons shot 48% in the first half, including a 5-for-7 effort from three-point range.

Chicago maintained a double-digit lead for most of the first 10 minutes of the second stanza. A pair of free throws from freshman guard Dana Kaplan (Commack, N.Y./ Commack) put the Maroons on top 57-45 with 9:36 remaining in the contest.

St. Thomas (20-8) went on a 7-0 run to cut the gap to 57-52 with 8:35 left. Neither team scored for the next 3:31 until sophomore point guard Jamie Stinson (Topeka, Kan./ Shawnee Heights) hit a free throw to give Chicago a 58-52 edge at the 5:04 mark.

Sophomore forward Molly Hackney (East Lansing, Mich./ Lansing Catholic) scored the Maroons' final points on a jumper with 1:57 left in the game.

A basket by Dee Prioleau at the 1:39 mark and a three-pointer from Chelsea Wirtz with 1:00 left pulled the Tommies within three points, but Chicago kept St. Thomas off the board the rest of the way.

Senior guard Nofi Mojidi (Silver Spring, Md./ Bullis School) joined Leach in double figures with 12 points as the Maroons won their first-ever NCAA postseason game.

Sophomore forward Anna Woods (Bala Cynwyd, Pa./ Lower Merion) grabbed nine boards as the Maroons outrebounded the Tommies 48-41. Woods also collected a pair of blocked shots.

Sheena Porter-Wrzos led three Tommies in double digits with 16 points. Wirtz and Jessica Katch added 12 and 10, respectively.

Chicago will take on the winner of Friday's second game between Wisconsin-Stevens Point and St. Norbert College.

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