NKyTribune staff
Thomas More junior guard Briana McNutt scored a career-high 23 points Thursday night to lead the Saints to a 75-68 win over Life (Ga.) at the Connor Convocation Center.
Thomas More, ranked No. 22 nationally in the NAIA poll, improved to 19-9 overall. The Saints are 8-7 in the Mid-South Conference. Life dropped to 13-15 overall, 4-11 in the Mid-South.
McNutt poured in 16 points during the first half as Thomas More rallied from a 23-8 deficit to forge a 33-33 tie at the break. The Saints then opened the third quarter with a 9-2 run to build a 42-35 lead when Kaylin Burdick hit a 3-pointer with 6:58 to play.
Thomas More senior forward Emily Schultz just missed a double-double with 19 points and nine rebounds to go with two blocks and two assists. Schultz scored 13 points in the second half to key the win.
Sydni Tears scored 24 points to lead Life. The Running Eagles were just 1-for-12 from 3-point range and finished 9-for-20 at the free-throw line.
Thomas More shot 43.6 percent from the field and converted 22 of its 30 free throws.
Thomas More closes out the regular season on Saturday at Cumberland (Tenn.) at 3 p.m. The Saints begin play at the Mid-South Conference Tournament next week.
NKU WOMEN IMPROVE TO 17-11: Ally Niece scored 19 points and dished out six assists as Northern Kentucky posted an 82-61 win at Detroit Mercy on Thursday night. The Norse improved to 17-11 overall, 11-6 in the Horizon League.
Grayson Rose added 10 points and 11 rebounds for NKU, which used a 27-12 spurt in the third quarter to pull away. The Norse were 12-for-24 from 3-point range, with Niece burying five triples.
NKU’s Kailey Coffey finished with 10 rebounds and eight points. Maxine Moore led Detroit Mercy (3-25, 3-14 Horizon League) with 14 points.
NKU concludes the regular season at Oakland on Saturday. The Norse begin Horizon League Tournament play next Tuesday night at BB&T Arena against Detroit Mercy. NKU is locked into the No. 4 seed, while Detroit Mercy is No. 9.
TMU MEN WIN EIGHTH STRAIGHT: Luke Rudy and Ryan Batte combined for 34 points as the Thomas More men improved to 23-6 with a 65-59 win over Life (Ga.) on Thursday night. The Saints, ranked No. 18 nationally in the NAIA poll, are 10-5 in the Mid-South Conference and have won eight consecutive games.
Rudy finished with 19 points and drained six 3-pointers. Batte added 15 points and grabbed six rebounds. Garren Bertsch scored 10 points for the Saints, who held Life (11-17 overall, 2-13 Mid-South) to 40.8 percent shooting from the field.
Thomas More closes out the regular season on Saturday at Cumberland (Tenn.) at 5 p.m. The Saints begin play at the Mid-South Conference Tournament next week at Bowling Green, Ky.
(Information compiled from Thomas More, NKU and staff reports)