Sophomore forward Nikki Kiernan (Cold Springs, Ky./Newport Central Catholic) recorded a double-double Wednesday as she scored a game-high-tying 26 points and pulled down a game-high 12 rebounds to lead the top-ranked Thomas More College women’s basketball team to a 118-66 win over Bethany College in a Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) game at Hummel Field House in Bethany, West Virginia.
With the win, the Saints improve to 11-0 overall and 5-0 in the PAC. The win was Thomas More’s 82nd straight regular season loss was an overtime loss to then No. 1-ranked Calvin College on November 23, 2012. With the loss, the Bison fall to 5-7 overall and 3-2 in the PAC.
Bethany took an early 5-3 lead with 9:18 in the first quarter when Sami Schott made a three-pointer. The Saints then closed out the quarter on a 31-19 run to build a 34-24 lead after one quarter. Thomas More used a 23-11 scoring advantage in the second quarter to extend the lead to 57-35 at halftime. In the third quarter the Saints out-scored the Bison 38-18 to lead 95-53 after three quarters and then had a 23-13 scoring advantage in the fourth quarter to cruise to the 118-66 victory.
Thomas More had a 68-8 advantage in points in the paint, 39-10 in points off turnovers and 26-4 in second chance points.
Four other Saints joined Kiernan in double-figure scoring as sophomore guard Abby Owings (Independence, Ky./Simon Kenton) had a game-high-tying 26 points and a game-high four steals, freshman Madison Temple (Cincinnati, Ohio/Anderson) finished with 14 points, senior guard/forward Sydney Moss (St. Albans, W.Va./Boone County (Ky.)) had 13 points and dished out 10 assists for a double-double and junior forward Kirsten Paul (Cincinnati, Ohio/Cincinnati Christian) added 11 points.
Thomas More returns to action on Saturday when it hosts fellow PAC front runners Washington & Jefferson (10-2, 5-0 PAC) at 1 p.m. at the Connor Convocation Center.
Saints’ men knock off Bison
The Thomas More College men’s basketball team defeated Bethany College, 62-57, tonight Wednesday in a Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) game at Hummel Field House in Bethany, West Virginia.
With the win, the Saints improve to 7-5 overall and 4-1 in the PAC. The Bison fall to 7-5 overall and 3-2 in the PAC.
Thomas More jumped out to an early 26-13 lead with 4:14 to play in the first half when freshman guard Brandon Horne (Louisville, Ky./Male) made a three-pointer. Bethany closed out the half on a 12-5 run to cut the lead to 31-25 at halftime when Jerron Athey made a three-pointer with 13-seconds to play in the opening half.
The Saints opened the second half on a 5-0 run capped by a three-pointer by sophomore forward Austin Young (Campbellsburg, Ky./Henry County) to increase the lead to 36-25 with 18:06 to play in the game. The Bison answered with their own 5-0 run to cut the lead to 36-30 with 16:06 when Chris Harris scored on a tip-in.
Thomas More responded with a 23-14 run to extend the lead to 59-44 with 5:40 to play in the game when junior forward/center Simon Clifford (Louisville, Ky./DuPont Manual) made a jumper. Bethany closed out the game on a 13-3 run, but it wasn’t enough as Thomas More won the game 62-57.
Sophomore guard Daniel Williams (Louisville, Ky./Jeffersonville) led the team in scoring with a game-high 18 points. Freshman guard Damion King (Winchester, Ky./George Rogers Clark) joined Williams in double-figure scoring with 12 points, while Horne just missed with nine points. Clifford led the team on the boards with eight rebounds, while Williams led the team in steals with three and junior guard Sawyer Pauly (Crescent Springs, Ky./Covington Catholic) led the team in assists with four.
Thomas More returns to action on Saturday when it hosts Washington & Jefferson College at 3 p.m. at the Connor Convocation Center in Crestview Hills.
From TMC Athletics