(CRESTVIEW HILLS, Ky.)- #1 Thomas More University women's basketball team defeated Cumberland (Tenn.) on Saturday afternoon (Jan. 22), 75-54. the Saints overall record improves to 18-1 and 11-0 in the conference.
- Junior Emily Simon (Hilliard, Ohio/Hilliard Davidson) started things off for the Saints with a 3-point jump shot to put the Saints on the board (3-0) with 9:35 to play in the first half.
- Sophomore Maggie Jones (Piner, Ky./Simon Kenton) closed out the Saints 17-0 run over the Phoenix with a layup at the 2:23 time mark to make it a 21-3 game.
- Sophomore transfer Alex Smith (Cincinnati, Ohio/Mercy McAuley) made the final basket of the quarter for the Saints with 47 seconds left to give the Saints an 18 point lead (25-7). Saints led 25-9 going into the second quarter.
- With 9:56 to play in the second quarter, junior Summer Secrist (Taylor Mill, Ky./Scott) drove to the rim for a layup for the Saints for the first basket of the second quarter (27-9).
- Junior Courtney Hurst (Burlington, Ky./Conner) hit a 3-point shot with 2:45 to play in the half to extend the Saints lead to 41-22.
- Senior Taylor Clos (Alexandria, Ky./Campbell County) closed out the scoring for the Saints in the first half with a layup to give the Saints a 20 point lead going into the locker room at the half (45-25).
- Secrist led the Saints with 10 points and two blocks and had four rebounds.
- Simon also led the Saints with 10 points and had three rebounds and two assists.
- Junior Zoie Barth (Fort Thomas/Highlands) led the Saints with five rebounds and three assists in the first half.
- Clos tallied nine points, two rebounds, and one assist.
- The Saints were 51.5% (17-33) from the field, 36.4% (4-11) from the 3-point line, and 70% (7-10) from the free throw line in the first half.
- Barth kicked the scoring off for the Saints in the second half making two free throws to make it a 47-29 game with 8:48 to play in the third quarter.
- With 3:39 to play in the third quarter, sophomore Kelly Brenner (Cincinnati, Ohio/Roger Bacon) drained a jumper to extend the Saints lead to 17 (52-35).
- Secrist would make a jump shot for the final basket of the quarter to give the Saints 60-40 going into the final quarter of the game.
- Secrist drove to the basket for a layup for the Saints first points of the fourth quarter with 7:58 to play in the game (62-40).
- With 4:17 to play in the game, Clos swished in a 3-point shot to make it a 68-52 game.
- Clos would make two free throws for the final points of the game to secure the Saints 75-54 win over the Phoenix.
- Secrist led the Saints with 11 points in the second half and had two rebounds and two assists.
- Barth led the Saints with six rebounds and two assists.
- Clos tallied seven points and four rebounds in the second half.
- The Saints were 29.6% (8-27) from the field, 18% (2-11) from the 3-point (2-11), and 75% (12-16) from the free throw line in the second half.
- Secrist scored a career high of 21 points to lead the Saints and had six rebounds and two blocks.
- Clos followed with 16 points, six rebounds, and one assist.
- Barth recorded 10 rebounds and five assists to lead the Saints and had five points.
- The Saints were 41.7% (25-60) from the field, 28.6% (6-21) from the 3-point line, and 73.1% (19-26) from the free throw line.
The Saints return to the court on Thursday (Jan. 27) against Tennessee Southern at 7:00 pm ET in Pulaski, Tenn.
