(CRESTVIEW HILLS, Ky.) – Thomas More University junior guard Briana McNutt (Maysville, Ky./Mason County) scored a career-high 23 to lead the 22nd-ranked Saints to a 75-68 win over Life University tonight (Thursday, February 27, 2020) in a Mid-South Conference game at the Connor Convocation Center in Crestview Hills, Kentucky.
- Life jumped out to a 23-8 lead after one quarter as Shikiya Brown made a jumper with two-seconds to play in the quarter.
- Thomas More opened the second quarter on a 25-8 run to take a 33-31 lead with 51-seconds to play in the quarter when sophomore forward Kaylin Burdick (Cincinnati, Ohio/West Clermont) converted an old fashion three-point play.
- The Running Eagles's Sydni Tears made a lay-up with two seconds to play in the second quarter to tie the game at 33-33 at halftime.
- McNutt had 16 points at the half to lead the Saints.
- The Saints opened the third quarter on a 9-2 run to build a 42-35 lead when Burdick made a three-pointer with 6:58 to play in the third quarter.
- Life used a 12-6 run capped by a jumper by Tears to cut the lead to 48-47 with 1:21 to play in the third quarter.
- Thomas More closed out the quarter on a 4-1 run to lead 52-48 after three quarter as first-year guard Zoie Barth (Fort Thomas, Ky./Highlands) made two free-throws with 11-seconds to play in the quarter.
- The Running Eagles opened the fourth quarter on a 14-7 run to take a 62-59 lead with 5:38 to play in the game when Tierra Tullis converted an old fashion three-point play.
- Undaunted, the Saints close out the game on a 16-6 run to post the 75-68 victory.
- Senior forward Emily Schultz (Melbourne, Ky./Bishop Brossart) tallied 13 in the half.
- Barth finished with 12 points in the half.
- McNutt netted seven points in the second half.
- Thomas More improves to 19-9 overall and 8-7 in the Mid-South.
- Life fall to 13-15 overall and 4-11 in the Mid-South.
- The Saints shot 43.6 percent (24-of-55) from the field and 73.3 percent (22-of-30) from the free-throw line.
- McNutt had 23 points, four rebounds and one assist.
- Schultz just missed a double-double with 19 points and nine rebounds to go with two blocks and two assists.
- Barth finished with 12 points, seven rebounds and two assists.
- The Saints will close out the regular season on Saturday (February 29) when they travel to Lebanon, Tennessee to play Cumberland University at 3 p.m. Eastern/2 p.m. Central.