(SIOUX CITY, Iowa) – The top-seeded Thomas More University women's basketball team finished as the NAIA National Runners-Up as it fell, 72-61 to second-seeded Westmont University tonight (Tuesday, March 23, 2021) in the national championship game at the Tyson Event Center in Sioux City, Iowa.
- Thomas More jumped out to a 15-8 lead when sophomore guard Courtney Hurst (Burlington, Ky./Conner) made a three-pointer with 5:07 to play in the first quarter.
- Westmont closed out the quarter on a 7-2 run to cut the Saints lead to 17-15 after one quarter when Stepfanie Berberabe made two-free-throws.
- The Saints opened the second quarter one a 4-0 capped by a jumper by sophomore guard Summer Secrist (Taylor Mill, Ky./Scott) to increase the lead to 19-15 with 8:26 to play in the quarter.
- Westmont used a 19-7 run to build a 34-26 with 1:16 to play in the second quarter when Lauren Tsuneishi made jumper.
- Graduate forward Alexah Chrisman (Greendale, Ind./McAuley) made a lay-up with five seconds to play in the quarter to cut the lead to 34-28 at halftime.
- The Saints shot 44.4 percent (12-of-27) from the field, while Westmont shot 45.1 percent (14-of-31).
- Thomas More had a 16-8 advantage in the paint.
- Chrisman had eight points and two rebounds.
- Sophomore guard Emily Simon (Hilliard, Ohio/Hilliard Davidson) had seven points and two rebounds.
- Hurst had six points.
- Junior guard Taylor Clos (Alexandria, Ky./Campbell County) dished out four assists and had three points.
- Thomas More opened the third quarter on a 7-5 run to cut the lead to 39-35 with 5:09 to play in the quarter when Secrist made one-of-two free-throws.
- Tsuneishi made a three-pointer to with 3:52 to play in the third quarter to cap a 6-0 run to extend the Warriors' lead to 45-35.
- The Saints answered with a 6-0 run to cut the lead to 45-41 when first-year guard Maggie Jones (Piner, Ky./Simon Kenton) made two free-throws with 1:36 to play in the third quarter.
- Westmont made a free-throw with seven seconds to play in the quarter to increase the lead to 46-41 after three quarters.
- Thomas More cut the lead to 51-48 with 7:31 to play in the game when Clos made a three-pointer.
- That would be as close as the Saints would come as Westmont closed out the game on a 21-13 run to post the 72-61 victory.
- Secrist led the team in scoring in the second half with nine points and pulled down four rebounds.
- Clos had eight points in the final 20 minutes.
- Simon finished with seven points in the half.
- Chrisman pulled down nine rebounds in the second half.
- Thomas More finished the season 29-2 and as national runners-up.
- The Saints shot 38.6 percent (22-of-57) from the field, while Westmont shot 41.5 percent (27-of-65).
- Simon led the team in scoring with 14 points, while pulling down three rebounds, dishing out one assist and blocking one shot.
- Secrist finished with 13 points, seven rebounds, one assist and one steal.
- Clos had 11 points, four rebounds, five assists and one steal.
- Chrisman had nine points, nine rebounds, two blocks and one assist.
- Hurst finished with nine points, five rebounds, four assists and one steal.
- Clos was named first team All-Tournament, while Simon and Chrisman was named second team.
