(CRESTVIEW HILLS, Ky.) – The No. 3-ranked Thomas More College women's basketball team advanced to the NCAA Division III Championship Sectional Semifinals "Sweet 16" tonight (Saturday, March 3, 2018) as it defeated Juniata College, 83-50, in a second round game at the Connor Convocation Center in Crestview Hills, Kentucky.
With the win, the Saints improve to 28-1 and will play Gustavus Adolphus College in the sectional semifinals on Friday (March 9) at a location to be announced by the NCAA on Sunday afternoon. With the loss, the Eagles end the season at 23-6.
The Saints took control of the game early and never looked back as they scored the first 10 points of the game and led by as many as 21 points in the first quarter. Thomas More led 28-9 after one quarter, 43-19 at halftime and 64-32 after three quarters before posting the 83-50 victory.
Thomas More shot 49 percent from the field, including 50 percent from behind the three-point arc, while holding the Eagles to 32.1 percent shooting and forcing 23 turnovers. The Saints had an 18-4 advantage on points in the paint and 34-11 off turnovers.
Junior guard Madison Temple (Cincinnati, Ohio/Anderson) recorded a double-double with game-highs of 18 points and 10 assists. Joining her in double-figure scoring was senior guard Abby Owings (Independence, Ky./Simon Kenton) with 15 points, senior forward Nikki Kiernan (Cold Spring, Ky./Newport Central Catholic) with 14 points and junior forward Shelby Rupp (Milan, Ind./Batesville) with 10 points. Kiernan led the team on the boards with eight rebounds, while Owings, Temple and first-year guard Hayden White (Milford, Ohio/Milford) each had three assists.
