#1 Women's Basketball Defeats #24 Cumberlands to Open Conference Play

(CRESTVIEW HILLS, KY.) – The #1 Thomas More University women's basketball team takes care of business in their Mid South Conference opener against #24 Cumberlands. The Saints win 94-74, and move to an overall record of 4-0 and a Mid South record of 1-0.

• Senior Courtney Hurst (Burlington, Ky. / Conner) got the Saints offense started with a three pointer off of a first year Rylee Turner (Newport, Ky. / Newport Central Catholic) assist to give Thomas More a 3-0 lead.
• Senior Emily Simon (Hilliard, Ohio / Hilliard Davidson) makes back to back layups and junior Kelly Brenner (Cincinnati, Ohio / Roger Bacon) makes a three pointer off a junior Maggie Jones (Piner, Ky. / Simon Kenton) assist to give the Saints 13 to 7 lead.
• Maggie Jones and first year Jenna Lillard (Ludlow, Ky. / Ludlow) close out the first quarter for the Saints each making a three pointer to give Thomas More a 19 to 14 lead at the end of one.
• Kelly Brenner opens the second quarter with a three pointer off of a senior Zoie Barth (Fort Thomas Ky. / Highlands) assist to make it 22-14 Saints.
• Saints go on an 8-0 run from the 8 minute mark to the 6 minute mark capped off by an Emily Simon layup to move the Saints lead to 34 to 20.
• Sammi Whiteman (Covington, Ky. / Covington) and Rylee Turner both score four points down the stretch and stretches the Saints lead to 45-31 at the break.
• Saints are shooting 18-30 from the field (60%), and 5-10 from beyond the three point line.
• Saints trailed in the rebounding battle 11 to 21.
• Kelly Brenner and Emily Simon lead the Saints with 8 points each. 
• Zoie Barth had 7 points and led the team in assists with 3.
• Emily Simon led the team in rebounds with 4.
• Courtney Hurst had 3 blocks in the half.
• The Saints led 45 to 31.

• After a five point run by the Patriots to open the half, Zoie Barth answers with a three pointer to stretch the Saints lead to 12.
• Emily Simon hit a three pointer with 6:51 to go in the third off an assist from Zoie Barth. Saints led 51-38.
• Alex Smith makes the third three pointer of the half for the Saints off a Zoie Barth assist to make it 54-42.
• Courtney Hurst follows with a three of her own off an assist from junior Rachel Martin (Cincinnati, Ohio / Summit Country Day) on the next possession to make it a 15 point game.
• Maggie Jones the next Saint's three pointer off an assist from junior Mattison Vickers (Covington, Ky. / Simon Kenton) to make it 60-45.
• After an Emily Simon layup, junior Alex Smith (Cincinnati, Ohio / Mercy McAuley makes a three off an assist from Maggie Jones making it 65-50 Thomas More.
• Saints led at the end of the third quarter, 65 to 52.
• The Saints three point attack continues in the fourth with a three from Kelly Brenner off a pass from Alex Smith. 
• Saints go on a 6-0 run with a layups from Whiteman and Simon along with free throws from Maggie Jones making it 74-54.
• Alex Smith makes another three pointer off an assist from Rachel Martin to pu the Saints up 77-56.
• Maggie Jones and Courtney Hurst both make three pointers to put the Saints back up 20 at the 4 minute mark.
• With 28 seconds remaining, first year Natalie Noel (Salem, Ind. / Salem) makes her first career three pointer off an assist from sophomore Callie Hunt (Trenton, Ohio /Edgewood).
• Saints outscored their opponent in the second half 49 to 43.
• Saints shot 16-33 from beyond the arc. 
• Saints made all 10 of their second half free throw attempts.
• Emily Simon finished the game with a team high 17 points and team high 7 rebounds.
• Maggie Jones finished with 13 points and 3 three pointers.

• Emily Simon finished with 17 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 blocked shots.
• Courtney Hurst finished with 10 points and 4 blocked shots.
• Kelly Brenner went a perfect 4-4 from the field, scoring 11 points.
• Maggie Jones finished with 13 points.
• Zoie Barth finished with 10 points, and 5 assists.
• Alex Smith finished with 11 points.
• Six Saints finished in double figures.
• Saints make 16 three pointers and shoot 54.2% from the field.

Thomas More returns to the court on Saturday, Nov. 19 as they take on the Georgetown Tigers in Georgetown, Ky. Tip off is set for 1:00 pm ET.