NKyTribune staff
CHANDLER, Ariz. — Courtney Hurst tied a Thomas More single-game record with nine 3-pointers and finished with 29 points as the 21st-ranked Saints defeated No. 24 Montana Western, 72-69, at the Phoenix Frontier Classic on Thursday night.
Hurst’s nine 3-pointers tied the school record set by Sydney Moss, who accomplished the feat twice during the 2015-16 season. The freshman guard from Conner High School finished 9-for-12 from long range Thursday night as Thomas More improved to 10-2.
Trailing by three points, Montana Western was unable to attempt a potential game-tying shot in the final seconds.
Emily Schultz chipped in 10 points and eight rebounds as Thomas More held off a late Montana Western rally to win the battle of nationally ranked NAIA teams. Kaela Saner added nine points, four assists, three rebounds and three steals for Thomas More.
Montana Western (7-5) shot 51.1 percent from the field and won the rebounding battle by a 35-28 margin. The Bulldogs, however, committed 25 turnovers.
Thomas More will meet No. 25 Carroll College at 6 p.m. Friday.
NKU WOMEN MEET WOFFORD: The Northern Kentucky University women’s basketball team wraps up the non-conference schedule Friday night as Wofford (S.C.) visits BB&T Arena at 7 p.m.
NKU enters the game with a 5-5 record, while Wofford is 6-6.
Ally Niece scored 19 points, including the winning shot in the final seconds, as NKU posted a 70-68 win at Indiana State on Monday. Niece added eight assists and six rebounds.
Molly Glick scored 15 points in the Norse win, while Emmy Souder and Ivy Turner added 12 and 11, respectively. Kailey Coffey just missed a double-double with nine points and 12 rebounds.
After starting the season with four consecutive losses, NKU has won five of its past six games.
(Information compiled fron Thomas More, NKU and staff reports)