Sophomore forward Nikki Kiernan (Cold Springs, Ky./Newport Central Catholic) recorded a double-double Wednesday as she led the No. 1-ranked Thomas More College women’s basketball team to a 93-68 win over Waynesburg University in both teams’ Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) opener at the Connor Convocation Center in Crestview Hills, Kentucky.
With the win, the Saints improve to 4-0 overall and 1-0 in the PAC. With the loss, the Yellow Jackets fall to 1-5 overall and 0-1 in the PAC.
Waynesburg took an early 12-6 lead when Lauren Blair made a three-pointer with 6:04 to play in the first quarter. Thomas More closed out the first quarter on an 11-5 run to tie the game at 17-17 after one quarter when sophomore guard Abby Owings (Independence, Ky./Simon Kenton) made two free-throws with one-second to play in the quarter.
Thomas More out-scored the Yellow Jackets, 30-13, in the second quarter to build a 47-30 lead at halftime.
The Saints opened the second half on a 4-0 run to increase the lead to 51-30 when Kiernan made a jumper with 8:57 to play in the third quarter. Waynesburg answered with an 8-2 run to cut the lead to 53-38 with 6:26 to play in the third quarter when Addy Knetzer made two free-throws. Thomas More closed out the third quarter on an 18-14 run to increase the lead to 71-52 after three quarters.
In the fourth quarter, Thomas More out-scored Waynesburg, 22-16, as it cruised to the 93-68 victory.
Kiernan had a game-high 24 points and 12 rebounds to record her second career double-double. She was joined in double-figure scoring by senior forward Alexa Santamaria (Cincinnati, Ohio/Mount Notre Dame) with 12 points and Owings with 11 points. Senior guard Olivia Huber (Woodlawn, Ky./Newport Central Catholic) led the team in assists with five, while Kiernan led the team in blocks with five and Santamaria led the team in steals with three.
Thomas More returns to action on Saturday when it travels to New Wilmington, Pennsylvania to play Westminster College. Tip-off is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. in Buzz Ridl Gymnasium.
Thomas More men knock off Waynesburg in OT
Junior forward Simon Clifford (Louisville, Ky./DuPont Manual) had a game-high 24 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Thomas More College men’s basketball team to an 85-83 overtime win over Waynesburg University Wednesday in a Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) game at the Connor Convocation Center in Crestview Hills, Kentucky.
With the win, the Saints improve to 2-3 overall and 1-0 in the PAC while the Yellow Jackets fall to 0-5 overall and 0-1 in the PAC.
Waynesburg raced out to an early 22-5 lead when B.J. Durham made a lay-up with 12:55 to play in the first half. The Saints answered with a 34-15 run to take a 39-37 lead with 47-seconds to play in the opening half when sophomore guard Daniel Williams (Louisville, Ky./Jeffersonville) made two free-throws. Waynesburg’s Jon Knaub made a lay-up at the buzzer to tie the game at 39-39 at halftime.
Thomas More opened the second half on a 12-8 run to build a 51-47 lead when sophomore guard Corey Howard (Gahanna, Ohio/Gahanna Lincoln) made a jumper with 16:16 to play in the second half. The Yellow Jackets answered with an 11-0 run capped by a Kendall Paige jumper to take a 58-51 lead with 12:59 to play in the game. Freshman guard Ryne Callahan (Morehead, Ky./Rowan County) made a three pointer with 10:26 to play in regulation to cap a 10-1 run to give the Saints a 61-59 lead.
Waynesburg used an 18-8 run to build a 74-69 lead with 3:10 to play in the second half when Durham made a lay-up. Thomas More tied the game at 75-75 with 1:12 to play in regulation when Clifford made two free-throws to cap a 6-1 run. The game went to overtime after neither team could score in the final 1:12.
Thomas More opened overtime on a 4-0 run to take a 79-75 lead on a Williams jumper with 4:14 to play in overtime. The Yellow Jackets tied the game at 79-79 when Dylan O’Hara made two free-throws to cap a 4-0 run with 2:29 to play in the extra period. The Saints used a 6-2 run capped by two free-throws by freshman guard Damion King (Winchester, Ky./George Rogers Clark) to take an 85-81 lead with 22-seconds to play in overtime. Waynesburg’s Knaub made a lay-up with 13-seconds in overtime to cut the lead to 85-83, but the Yellow Jackets’ final shot three-seconds to play was the off the mark and the Saints won the game.
Clifford was joined in double-figure scoring by Howard with 16 points and freshman guard Brandon Horne (Louisville, Ky./Male) with 12 points. Williams led the team in assists with 10 and steals with five.
Thomas More returns to action on Saturday when it travels to New Wilmington, Pennsylvania to play Westminster College. Tip-off is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.
From TMC Athletics