Thomas More women play host to Midway (Ky.) on Wednesday night; Mohs earns national honors

By Don Owen
NKyTribune reporter

The Thomas More University women’s basketball team plays host to Midway (Ky.) at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the Connor Convocation Center in Crestview Hills.

Thomas More is ranked No. 5 nationally in the NCAA Division III poll, and the Saints are coming off a 71-49 win over Wheaton (Ill.) in Friday’s season opener. Thomas More started the game with a 12-2 run and cruised to the road victory.

Madison Temple netted 24 points and collected seven steals to lead Thomas More. Temple, who also dished out five assists and grabbed four rebounds, was named the American Collegiate Athletic Association’s Player of the Week on Tuesday.

Temple, a senior guard from Cincinnati, was last season’s Presidents’ Athletic Conference Player of the Year and Great Lakes Region Player of the Year. She averaged 17.9 points and 7.0 rebounds.

In addition, Temple ranked fourth nationally last season in NCAA Division III in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.74), sixth in total assists (170) and 10th in points (574). She enters Wednesday night with 1,429 career points.

Senior forward Shelby Rupp scored 15 points and hauled in eight rebounds against Wheaton, while sophomore guard Briana McNutt finished with 11 points. The Saints owned a 36-17 advantage in points off turnovers.

Midway is 1-2 after dropping an 82-70 decision to Northwestern Ohio. Haleigh Yazell scored 21 points to lead the Eagles, who are members of the NAIA.

Thomas More posted a 30-2 record last season and advanced to the NCAA Division III Final Four. The Saints also captured the Presidents’ Athletic Conference championship. Thomas More is playing as an NCAA Division III independent this season, and the Saints will join the NAIA in 2019-20.

MOHS EARNS NATIONAL HONORS: Thomas More volleyball standout Emily Mohs has been named the AVCA National Freshman of the Year and first team All-American. Mohs is currently 28th nationally with 3.98 kills per set, 11th with 462 kills, and 86th with a .320 hitting percentage. Mohs is the sixth AVCA All-American in Thomas More history.

Mohs, a graduate of Seton High School in Cincinnati, helped Thomas More post a 33-4 record this season and advance to the NCAA Division III Tournament. The Saints advanced to the regional championship match before dropping a four-set decision to host Juniata (Pa.) in the finale.

Mohs was also selected both ACAA Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year this fall. Earlier this season, Mohs hammered down a career-high 36 kills as Thomas More upset No. 1 Calvin (Mich.) in five sets, 29-31, 28-26, 14-25, 25-20, 15-13, at the Midwest Invitational at Grand Rapids, Mich. She also hit .373 as the Saints handed previously unbeaten Calvin its first loss.

In addition, junior middle hitter Jenna Mummert was named AVCA honorable mention All-America. Mummert recorded 390 kills and 103 blocks this season. She also attacked at a .299 clip and was named All-ACAA.

Contact Don Owen at don@nkytrib.com and follow him on Twitter at @dontribunesport