BURLINGTON, Vt. - Saint Louis University women's basketball continued its historical season here Wednesday evening, defeating Vermont 57-54 to advance to the WNIT Championship game against the University of Minnesota Saturday.

The Billikens notched win No. 21 against the Catamounts, and enter the championship on a five-game win streak earning victories in 10 out of their last 11 games. 

SLU shot 24 percent in the first half, and found itself in a 24-17 deficit at the break. Out of the locker rooms, Peyton Kennedy scored her 11th point of the day as the Billikens pulled back within five points. Sparked by the senior forward, the Billikens flexed offensively, going on a 17-4 run to take the 41-37 lead as time expired in the third quarter. 

Kyla McMakin scored the first points of the final period in Burlington, extending the Billikens' lead to six points. From there, the Billikens took control of the game, registering five of their eight steals in clutch moments. 

The Billikens earned the three-point win to advance to the WNIT's championship game, holding off the Catamounts in the final seconds after Brooklyn Gray pushed SLU's lead to five at the charity stripe.

Kennedy led all scorers with 23 points in the game, matching her average of 23.2 points through the team's post-season run. Gray scored 13 in the win while Julia Martinez registered six rebounds, four assists and three steals. 

SLU will face off against its second Big 10 opponent of the season in the championship, taking on the Minnesota Gophers for the WNIT crown. The game will be played Saturday at 2 p.m. Location will be revealed Thursday afternoon.