(CRESTVIEW HILLS, Ky.) – The Thomas More University women's basketball team used a big third quarter to defeat the University of Pikeville, 70-51, tonight (Thursday, January 30, 2020) in a Mid-South Conference game at the Connor Convocation Center in Crestview Hills, Kentucky.
- Thomas More jumped out to an 8-4 lead with 6:29 to play in the first quarter when first-year guard Zoie Barth (Fort Thomas, Ky./Highlands) made two free-throws.
- UPike answered with an 8-3 run to take a 12-11 lead when Brianna Burbridge made a lay-up with 3:50 to play in the first quarter.
- The Saints closed the opening quarter on a 4-0 to take a 15-12 lead after one quarter when junior guard Briana McNutt (Maysville, Ky./Mason County) made a jumper with 47-seconds to play in the quarter.
- Thomas More opened the second quarter on a 17-6 run to extend the lead to 32-18 with 1:55 to play in the quarter when first-year guard Summer Secrist (Taylor Mill, Ky./Scott) made a lay-up.
- The Bears closed the quarter on an 8-0 run to cut the lead to 32-26 at halftime when Mia Greatrex made a jumper with 19-seconds to play in the second quarter.
- Thomas More shot 42.3 percent (11-of-26) from the field in the opening half.
- Senior forward Emily Schultz (Melbourne, Ky./Bishop Brossart) led the Saints with 10 points, five rebounds, one steal, one assist and one block.
- Barth added eight points, three steals and three rebounds.
- Thomas More used a 24-11 scoring advantage in the third quarter to extend the lead to 56-27 after three quarters.
- The Saints shot 62.5 percent (10-of-16) from the field in the third quarter, including 40 percent (two-of-five) from behind the three-point arc.
- Thomas More led by as many as 20 points in the third quarter as they cruised to the 70-51 victory.
- Barth had 13 points, five rebounds and two assists in the second half.
- McNutt added seven points in the half.
- Sophomore forward Kaylin Burdick (Cincinnati, Ohio/West Clermont) had six points in the second half.
- Thomas More improved to 16-6 overall and 5-4 in the Mid-South.
- Pikeville fell to 14-9 overall and 4-5 in the Mid-South.
- The Saints out-scored the Bears 34-12 in the paint, 16-12 off turnovers and 10-2 in fast break points.
- Thomas More shot 48.2 percent (27-of-56) from the field.
- Barth led the Saints with a game-high 21 points, eight rebounds, five assists and one steal.
- Schultz finished with 12 points, nine rebounds, two blocks, two assists and one steal.
- McNutt had nine points and one assist.
- Senior guard Kaela Saner (Florence, Ky./Boone County) had eight points, five rebounds and one assist.
- Thomas More returns to action on Saturday (February 1) when it travels to Portsmouth, Ohio to play seventh-ranked Shawnee State University in a 2 p.m. Mid-South Conference game.
