(CRESTVIEW HILLS, Ky.) - Sophomore guard Katie Kitchen (Alexandria, Ky./Campbell County) scored a game-high 25 points, but it wasn't enough as the 17th-ranked Thomas More College women's basketball team fell, 65-59, to Capital University today (Saturday, November 26, 2011) on the first day of the 10th Annual Julie Costello Memorial Classic presented by Barleycorn's at the Connor Convocation Center in Crestview Hills, Kentucky.
With the loss, the Saints fall to 1-1 on the season and with the win, the Crusaders improve to 4-0.
Thomas More took an early 3-2 lead when Kitchen made a three-pointer at the 19:11 mark of the first half. Capital answered with a 23-1 run capped by a jumper by Shalena Hawkins to take a 25-4 lead with 5:30 to play in the first half. The Saints closed out the half on a 16-4 run to cut the lead to 29-20 at halftime as Kitchen made a jumper with nine-seconds to play in the opening half.
The Saints opened the second half on a 6-4 run capped by two free-throws by Kitchen to cut the lead to 33-26 with 13:51 to play in the game. The Crusaders responded with an 18-8 run to extend the lead to 52-34 with 8:15 to play in the game when Shelby Sheets made a lay-up. Undaunted, the Saints answered with a 20-5 to cut the lead to 57-54 when junior guard Allison Long (Hebron, Ky./Conner) made a three-pointer with 2:48 to play in the game. Capital would close-out the game on an 8-5 run to win the game, 65-59.
Joining Kitchen in double-figures was Long with a career-high 20 points. Sophomore forward Moriah Corey (Louisville, Ky./Butler) led the Saints on the boards with a season-high 10 rebounds, while junior guard Jill Brunsman (Cincinnati, Ohio/Mother of Mercy) led the Saints in assists with a career-high seven.
Thomas More returns to action tomorrow (Sunday, November 27) when it hosts Shawnee State University at 4 p.m. on the final day of the Julie Costello Memorial Classic at the Connor Convocation Center.
