(BOWLING GREEN, Ky.) – The top-ranked and top-seeded Thomas More University women's basketball team defeated ninth-seeded Martin Methodist College, 82-67, in the quarterfinal round of the Mid-South Conference Women's Basketball Championship at Studle Financial Arena in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
- Martin Methodist raced out to an early 13-4 lead when Nicole Shirley made a field goal with 4:14 to play in the first quarter.
- The Saints answered with a 9-3 run to cut the lead to 16-13 after one quarter when senior guard Briana McNutt (Maysville, Ky./Mason County) made a three-pointer with three-seconds to play in the quarter.
- Thomas More out-scored the RedHawks 25-15 in the second quarter to build a 38-31 lead at halftime.
- The Saints shot 48.2 percent (14-of-29) from the field, including 45.5 percent (five-of-11) from behind the three-point arc in the first half.
- McNutt led the Saints in scoring in the opening half with 16 points, while she pulled down three rebounds.
- Sophomore guard Zoie Barth (Fort Thomas, Ky./Highlands) had 12 points and three rebounds.
- Thomas More used a 25-15 scoring advantage in the third quarter to extend the lead to 63-46 after three quarters.
- The Saints kept control in the fourth quarter to cruise to the 82-67 victory.
- Barth scored 13 points in the final 20 minutes.
- Graduate forward Alexah Chrisman (Greendale, Ind./McAuley (Ohio)) added 10 points in the second half.
- Sophomore guard Summer Secrist (Taylor Mill, Ky./Scott) tallied eight in the closing two frames.
- Thomas More improves to 23-1 on the season.
- Martin Methodist ends the season at 7-13.
- For the game, the Saints shot 50.0 percent (31-of-62) from the field, including 43.5 percent (10-of-23) from behind the arc.
- Barth was named the Player of the Game as she finished with 25 points, pulled down five rebounds, dished out five assists and had three steals.
- McNutt finished with 16 points and three rebounds.
- Chrisman had 10 points, seven rebounds and one blocked shot.
- Secrist finished with eight points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals.
- Junior guard Taylor Clos (Alexandria, Ky./Campbell County) had seven points, four rebounds, three assists and one steal.
- Thomas More advances to play either fourth-seeded University of the Cumberlands or fifth-seeded Shawnee State University on Monday (March 1) at 12 p.m. Central/1 p.m. Eastern in the semifinal round of the Mid-South Championship in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
