NKyTribune staff
The Thomas More University women’s basketball team opened the game with a 31-5 run and cruised to a 92-47 win over Valley Forge in the championship game of the American Collegiate Athletic Association Tournament on Sunday at Alfred, N.Y.
ACAA Tournament most valuable player Madison Temple finished with 21 points, eight rebounds and five assists for Thomas More, which improved to 27-0. The Saints shot 49.4 percent from the field and owned a 58-24 advantage in points in the paint.
Shelby Rupp joined Temple on the All-Tournament team after scoring 13 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. She also dished out four assists and collected three steals.
It marked the 12th consecutive season in which Thomas More has won a conference tournament title. The Saints also captured 11 straight Presidents’ Athletic Conference tournament championships before leaving that league after the 2017-18 campaign.
Thomas More will learn its NCAA Division III Tournament destination on Monday afternoon. The ACAA champion does not receive an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament, but the Saints are expected to earn an at-large bid and potentially host the opening two rounds next weekend at the Connor Convocation Center.
A year ago, Thomas More advanced to the NCAA Division III Final Four.
NKU WOMEN WIN HOME FINALE: Taylor Clos scored 17 points as the Northern Kentucky University women’s basketball team posted a 74-55 win over Cleveland State on Sunday in the home finale at BB&T Arena.
NKU closed the first quarter with a 17-2 run to take a 21-6 lead and built that advantage to 32-17 at halftime. Molly Glick scored 13 points for the Norse, who snapped a five-game losing streak in the series against the Vikings. NKU also won its final six home games of the season.
Ally Niece and Grayson Rose each scored eight points for NKU, while Kailey Coffey finished with 10 rebounds. Niece dished out eight assists and also grabbed six rebounds.
NKU recognized its lone senior, Taryn Taugher, prior to the game. She finished with four points and a season-best four assists.
NKU plays at Oakland at 4 p.m. Thursday, and the Norse close out regular-season action on Saturday at Detroit Mercy. NKU will then play in the first round of the Horizon league Tournament the following week at a campus site to be determined. The Norse are currently in sixth place in the Horizon League standings, with the top eight teams qualifying for the postseason.
(Information compiled from Thomas More, NKU Athletics Communications and staff reports)