(CRESTVIEW HILLS, Ky.) – Thomas More University junior Taylor Clos (Alexandria, Ky./Campbell County) scored a game-high 19 points tonight (Thursday, February 8, 2021) to lead the fourth-ranked Saints to a 64-54 win over 12th-ranked Shawnee State University in a Mid-South Conference game at the Connor Convocation Center in Crestview Hills, Kentucky.
- Thomas More jumped out to a 10-5 lead with 7:28 to play in the first quarter when sophomore guard Zoie Barth (Fort Thomas, Ky./Highlands) made a field goal.
- Shawnee State answered with a 10-2 run to take a 15-12 lead when Marnae Holland made a free-throw with 3:34 to play in the opening quarter.
- The Saints closed out the first quarter on an 11-2 run capped by a field goal by sophomore guard Kenzie Schwarber (Alexandria, Ky./Campbell County) with five-seconds to play in the quarter as the team took a 23-17 lead after one quarter.
- Senior guard Briana McNutt (Maysville, Ky./Mason County) made one of two free-throws with 8:08 to play in the second quarter to give the Saints their biggest lead of the half at 26-17.
- The Bears answered with a 14-6 run capped by an old fashion three-point play by Abbie Kallner with 1:55 to play in the quarter to close out the half and cut the lead to 32-31 at halftime.
- Clos scored nine points and had two steals.
- McNutt had eight points and three rebounds.
- Graduate forward Alexah Chrisman (Greendale, Ind./McAuley) pulled down six rebounds.
- Shawnee State took a short lead in the third quarter, but the Saints out-scored the Bears 14-9 in the third quarter to extend the lead to 46-40 after three quarters.
- Thomas More led by as many as 16 points in the fourth quarter as it went onto post the 64-54 victory.
- Clos tallied nine points in the closing 20 minutes.
- Sophomore guard Summer Secrist (Taylor Mill, Ky./Scott) added six points in the final half.
- Barth added five points in the half.
- Thomas More improved to 21-1 overall and 16-1 in the Mid-South.
- Shawnee State fell to16-6 overall and 10-6 in the Mid-South.
- The Saints forced 24 Shawnee State turnovers in the game.
- Clos led all scorers with 18 points, while pulling down two rebounds, dishing out two assists, blocking a shot and recording two steals.
- McNutt added 12 points, four rebounds and one steal.
- Barth had 10 points, a team-high nine rebounds and two steals.
- Chrisman pulled down seven rebounds.
- The Saints return to action on Thursday (February 11) when they host Bethel (Tenn.) University at 5:30 p.m. at the Connor Convocation Center in Crestview Hills, Kentucky.