NKyTribune staff
The Thomas More College women’s basketball team scored the first eight points of the game Friday night and never looked back as it defeated Oglethorpe (Ga.), 84-58, in an NCAA Division III Tournament first-round game at the Connor Convocation Center.
Thomas More improved to 27-1 and advanced to play Juniata (N.Y.) Saturday at 6:30 p.m. in a second-round game at the Connor Convocation Center. Juniata defeated Piedmont, 63-52, in the other first-round game Friday.
Junior guard Madison Temple scored a game-high 19 points to lead Thomas More. Joining her in double figures was Abby Owings with 15 points, Nikki Kiernan with 14 and Shelby Rupp with 12.
Sophomore forward Emily Schultz led the team on the boards with 10 rebounds, while Temple pulled down nine. Owings dished out seven assists, while Kiernan blocked a pair of shots.
The Saints raced out to an 8-0 lead with 9:05 to play in the first quarter when Owings buried a 3-pointer. Thomas More extended the lead to as many as 18 points in the first quarter. The Saints extended their advantage to 47-27 at halftime and were never threatened.
Thomas More shot 50 percent (32-for-64) from the field and held Oglethorpe (21-8) to 31 percent. The Saints owned a 49-25 advantage in rebounds and finished with a 38-10 edge in points in the paint.
Thomas More has won 26 consecutive games. The Saints have not lost since a 61-58 setback at Rochester (N.Y.) on Nov. 18.