The No. 1-ranked Thomas More College women’s basketball team is returning to its second-straight NCAA Division III National Semifinals as it defeated No. 10-ranked Washington University in St. Louis , 88-72, Saturday in a sectional final game at the Connor Convocation Center.
With the win, the Saints improve to 31-0 and will play No. 4-ranked Amherst College on Saturday, March 19 at 7:30 p.m. at the Capital Center on the Capital University campus in Columbus, Ohio. Fan are encouraged to order tickets on-line at www.capital.edu/ncaad3semifinaltickets. With the loss, the Bears end the season at 23-6.
Thomas More, the defending NCAA Division III champions, have won 64 consecutive games.
Thomas More jumped out to a 5-2 lead when senior guard/forward Sydney Moss (St. Albans, W.Va./Boone County (Ky.)) made a three-pointer with 7:58 to play in the first quarter. WashU answered with a 15-5 run to build a 17-10 lead on a Zoe Vernon three-pointer with 3:59 to play in the opening quarter. Thomas More closed out the quarter on a 7-2 run to cut the lead to 19-17 after one quarter.
The Saints opened the second quarter on a 25-12 run to take a 42-31 lead with 2:29 to play in the quarter when freshman guard Madison Temple (Cincinnati, Ohio/Anderson) made two free-throws. The Bears closed out the second quarter on a 6-2 run to cut the lead to 44-37 at halftime.
Thomas More opened the third quarter on a 9-1 run to extend the lead to 53-38 when sophomore forward Nikki Kiernan (Cold Springs, Ky./Newport Central Catholic) made two free-throws. WashU responded with an 18-9 run to close out the quarter and cut the Saints’ lead to 62-56 after three quarters.
The Saints out-scored the Bears 26-16 in the fourth quarter to roll to cruise to the 88-72 victory.
Thomas More shot 51.9 percent (28-of-54) from the field, including 55.0 percent (11-of-20) from behind the three-point arc. The Saints were a perfect 21-for-21 from the free-throw line. Thomas More had a 28-18 advantage in points in the paint and 15-8 off turnovers.
Sophomore guard Abby Owings (Independence, Ky./Simon Kenton) led the team in scoring with a game-high 26 points. She was joined in double-figure scoring by Moss with 23 points and Kiernan with 20 points. Moss finished with a double-double as she pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds. Temple led the team in assists with six, while Kiernan led the team in blocks with two and steals with two.
Newspaper Box Score
Washington-St. Louis vs Thomas More
03/12/16 6:30 p.m. at Crestview Hills, Ky. – Connor Center
At Crestview Hills, Ky. – Connor Center
THOMAS MORE 88, WASHINGTON-ST. LOUIS 72
WASHINGTON-ST. LOUIS (23-6)
Sondag, Rachael 8-11 0-0 23; Martinez, Amanda 4-13 3-4 12; Sarros, Lily 4-5
4-8 12; Thompson, Jordan 5-18 0-0 10; Biewen, Katybeth 3-6 0-1 6; Smith,
Claudia 1-1 3-4 6; Vernon, Zoe 1-3 0-0 3; Knollmeyer, Tori 0-2 0-0 0; Naig,
Paige 0-1 0-0 0; Keane, Alexandra 0-0 0-0 0; Botkin, Steph 0-1 0-0 0;
Clark-Callender, Bec 0-0 0-0 0; Dynis, Jenn 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 26-63 10-17
72.
THOMAS MORE (31-0)
Abby Owings 8-18 4-4 26; Sydney Moss 9-15 1-1 23; Nikki Kiernan 6-11 8-8 20;
Olivia Huber 2-2 2-2 7; Madison Temple 1-4 2-2 4; Alexa Santamaria 2-3 0-0
4; Samantha Cady 0-0 2-2 2; Kelly McDonald 0-0 2-2 2; Mikkah Hignite 0-0 0-0
0; Kelly Clapper 0-0 0-0 0; Kiley Bartels 0-0 0-0 0; Kirsten Paul 0-1 0-0 0;
Kaylee Bush 0-0 0-0 0; Shelby Rupp 0-0 0-0 0; Michaela Ware 0-0 0-0 0.
Totals 28-54 21-21 88.
Washington-St. Louis………. 19 18 19 16 – 72
Thomas More………………. 17 27 18 26 – 88
3-point goals–Washington-St. Louis 10-20 (Sondag, Rachael 7-9; Vernon, Zoe
1-3; Smith, Claudia 1-1; Martinez, Amanda 1-1; Knollmeyer, Tori 0-1; Biewen,
Katybeth 0-1; Thompson, Jordan 0-4), Thomas More 11-20 (Abby Owings 6-9;
Sydney Moss 4-7; Olivia Huber 1-1; Madison Temple 0-3). Fouled
out–Washington-St. Louis-Dynis, Jenn, Thomas More-None.
Rebounds–Washington-St. Louis 34 (Martinez, Amanda 7; Sarros, Lily 7),
Thomas More 31 (Sydney Moss 11). Assists–Washington-St. Louis 18 (Thompson,
Jordan 4; Vernon, Zoe 4), Thomas More 19 (Madison Temple 6). Total
fouls–Washington-St. Louis 19, Thomas More 16. Technical
fouls–Washington-St. Louis-None, Thomas More-None. A-841
NCAA Division III Women’s Basketball Championship – Sectional Final
From TMC Athletics