NKU women defeat Detroit Mercy, 78-67; Bellarmine remains unbeaten, TMC women win 10th straight

By Don Owen
NKyTribune reporter

Taryn Taugher and Kailey Coffey combined for 36 points Thursday night as the Northern Kentucky University women’s basketball team picked up its second straight victory with a 78-67 road triumph at Detroit Mercy.

Taugher poured in 19 points for NKU, which improved to 4-10 overall, 2-1 in the Horizon League. After building an 18-16 advantage in the first quarter, the Norse outscored the Titans 26-15 in the second frame to take a 44-31 lead at the break.

NKU extended its lead to as many as 25 points (61-36) in the second half and cruised to the victory. Coffey added a career-high 17 points and grabbed six rebounds as NKU won for the third time in the past four games.

Molly Glick chipped in 11 points for the Norse, who held the Titans to 38.2 percent shooting from the field. Jazmyne Geist finished with 10 points as NKU made 46 percent of its shots from the field.

Anja Marinkovic scored 23 points for Detroit Mercy, which remained winless (0-14, 0-3 HL) this season.

NKU continues the road trip Saturday with a 3 p.m. game at Oakland.

WEYER, BELLARMINE REMAIN UNBEATEN: Newport Central Catholic graduate Ben Weyer grabbed five rebounds and blocked a pair of shots to help Bellarmine remain unbeaten with a 70-63 win over Maryville on Thursday night in Louisville.

Weyer also scored three points and added two assists as Bellarmine improved to 12-0 overall, 3-0 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. The Knights — who rallied from a 15-point deficit (33-18) in the first half — are ranked No. 3 nationally in the Division II poll.

Adam Eberhard scored 22 points to lead Bellarmine, which is 7-0 at home this season.

Maryville had its seven-game win streak snapped and dropped to 10-3 overall, 2-2 GLVC.

TEMPLE LEADS TMC WOMEN: Madison Temple scored 22 points and grabbed nine rebounds to lead the Thomas More College women’s basketball team to a 79-25 win over Westminster College at the Connor Convocation Center.

Temple also dished out six assists as Thomas More improved to 11-1 overall, 5-0 in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference. The Saints ran off 24 consecutive points in the first quarter and coasted to their 10th straight victory.

Prior to the game, Temple was recognized for scoring her 1,000th career point while in Hawaii last month. The Saints held Westminster to just eight field goals the entire game and 17.8 percent shooting.

Thomas More has not lost to a PAC opponent since Jan. 14, 2012, when Saint Vincent College pulled out a 68-65 victory in Latrobe, Pa. The NCAA forced Thomas More to vacate every win during the 2014-15 season due to an eligibility issue, wiping out 20 victories against PAC schools.

Emily Schultz added 13 points and eight rebounds for Thomas More, which is ranked No. 8 in the NCAA Division III poll. The Saints play at Geneva (Pa.) College at 1 p.m. Saturday.

TMC MEN WIN: Damion King netted a team-leading 22 points as the Thomas More College men posted a 72-65 win over Westminster, handing the visiting Titans their first PAC loss of the season.

Thomas More improved to 8-4 overall, 4-1 in the PAC. Westminster is 9-2 overall, 3-1 in the PAC.

Michael Griffin joined King in double figures with 10 points for the Saints, who shot 44.4 percent from the field and outrebounded the visitors 41-33. Thomas More plays at Geneva (Pa.) at 3 p.m. Saturday.

EKU FALLS TO SIUE: Jalen Henry scored 35 points Thursday night to lead Southern Illinois Edwardsville to an 85-82 win over Eastern Kentucky at McBrayer Arena in Richmond.

Henry shot 5-for-6 from 3-point range and added six rebounds as SIUE improved to 5-9 overall, 1-2 in the Ohio Valley Conference. The Cougars shot 56.6 percent from the field, including 9-for-17 from beyond the arc.

Nick Mayo paced EKU (6-10, 0-3 OVC) with 25 points. The Colonels made 44.6 percent of their shots from the field.

Contact Don Owen at don@nkytrib.com