(LEBANON, Tenn.)-#3 Thomas More University women's basketball team defeated Cumberland (Tenn.) on Thursday evening ( Dec. 2), 75-70. The Saints overall record improves to 7-1 and 3-0 in the conference.
- The Saints started things off slow, but sophomore Kelly Brenner (Cincinnati, Ohio/Roger Bacon) kicked the scoring off for the Saints sinking her first 3-point jump shot of the night to put the team on the board (3-4).
- Junior Emily Simon (Hilliard, Ohio / Hilliard Davidson) made two free throws to give the Saints the lead for the first time of the night to make it 7-4 with 4:19 to play in the first quarter.
- Junior Zoie Barth (Fort Thomas, Ky / Highlands) swished a three with 45 seconds left in the quarter, to give the Saints the go ahead lead going into the second quarter.
- Junior Courtney Hurst (Burlington, Ky / Conner) made a layup to start things off in the second quarter with 7:26 left on the clock in the first half (17-15).
- With 2:30 to play in the first half, Brenner made her fourth and final 3-point jump shot off the half to give the Saints the lead once again (31-29).
- Barth would drive to the basket for a layup with 32 seconds left to close out the scoring for the Saints in the first half and go to the locker room leading 39-33.
- Brenner led the Saints with 12 points and was 100% (4-4) from the 3-point line.
- Hurst followed with eight points and two rebounds.
- Barth tallied seven points and was 100% (2-2) from the field and (1-1) from the 3-point line. She also led the Saints in assists with four and had three rebounds.
- Simon recorded five rebounds to lead the team defensively in the first half and had five points.
- The Saints were 41.9% (13-31) from the field, 50% (8-16) from the 3-point line, and 100% (5-5) from the free throw line in the first half.
- Hurst kicked things off for the Saints in the second half, draining a 3-point jump shot to extend the Saints lead to 42-40 with 8:14 to play in the third quarter.
- Senior Taylor Clos (Alexandria, Ky. / Campbell County) would drive to the rim for a layup to make it a 46-44 game with 5:38 to play in the quarter.
- Sophomore Maggie Jones (Piner, Ky. / Simon Kenton) hit a three to end the quarter for the Saints with a 58-49 lead.
- Sophomore transfer Alex Smith (Cincinnati, Ohio/Mercy McAuley) made a layup with 9:46 to play in the game to get things started in the final quarter of the game (60-49).
- With 4:34 to play in the game, Barth made two free throws to extend the Saints lead to 66-58.
- Simon secured the Saints win with 13 seconds left to play by making one free throw (75-67).
- The Phoenix rallied back, but in the end, came up short. The Saints remain undefeated in the conference with 75-70 win.
- Hurst led the second half with nine points.
- Clos followed with eight points and had two rebounds.
- Smith tallied three rebounds to lead the team defensively in the second half.
- Barth and Simon both had two assists.
- The Saints were 40.9% (9-22) from the field, 42.9% (3-7) from the 3-point line, and 78.9% (15-19) from the free throw line in the second half.
- Hurst led the scoring for the Saints with 17 points and had two rebounds and a block.
- Clos followed with 13 points, two rebounds, and one assist.
- Brenner recorded 12 points and one block.
- Barth led the Saints with six assists and had 12 points and five rebounds.
- Simon had a big defensive night with seven rebounds to lead the Saints and had nine points, two assists, and one block.
- The Saints were 41.5% (22-53) from the field, 47.8% (11-23) from the 3-point line, and 83.3% (20-24) from the free throw line.
Next up, the Saints travel to Columbia, Ky. to face RV Lindsey Wilson in a MSC match up on Saturday evening at 6:30 pm ET.
