(SIOUX CITY, Iowa)-No. 1 seed Thomas More University women's basketball team defeated Bryan College in the Round of 16 of the NAIA Women's Basketball National Championship, 95-62. The Saints overall record improves to 29-4.
- Junior Courtney Hurst (Burlington, Ky./Conner) kicked off the scoring for the Saints, draining a 3-point jump shot to put the team on the board 3-0 with 9:35 to play in the first quarter.
- With 5:41 on the clock, sophomore Kelly Brenner (Cincinnati, Ohio/Roger Bacon) swished in a 3-point shot to extend the Saints lead to 11-6.
- Junior Summer Secrist (Taylor Mill, Ky./Scott) made two free throws for the Saints final points of the first quarter.
- The Saints and Lions were tied at the end of the first quarter at 15-15.
- Sophomore transfer Alex Smith (Cincinnati, Ohio/Mercy McAuley) would hit a 3-point shot for the Saints first basket of the first quarter to put the team up 18-15 with 9:22 to play in the first half.
- Graduate student Alexah Chrisman (Greendale, Ind./McAuley) would drive to the rim for a layup to put the Saints up by nine with 5:17 on the clock in the first half (31-22).
- To close out the scoring for the Saints in the first half and close out their 17-0 run over the Lions, sophomore Maggie Jones (Piner, Ky./Simon Kenton) would make a layup to put the team up by 24 (48-24).
- The Saints would lead 48-27 going into the locker room at the half.
- Hurst would lead the Saints with 12 points and had three rebounds.
- Senior Taylor Clos (Alexandria, Ky./Campbell County) would follow hitting back to back to back three point shots to give her nine points in the first half.
- Chrisman brought down six rebounds to lead the Saints in the first half and had five points and one assist.
- Junior Emily Simon (Hilliard, Ohio/Hilliard Davidson) followed with five rebounds and two assists.
- Senior Kenzie Schwarber (Alexandria, Ky./Campbell County) led the Saints with three assists and had three rebounds.
- The Saints were 48.4% (15-31) from the field, 38.1% (8-21) from the 3-point line, and 80% (8-10) from the free throw line in the first half.
- Schwarber started the second half off for the Saints with a layup to make it a 48-29 game with 7:37 on the clock.
- Simon drove to the basket for a layup and one with 4:14 to play in the third quarter (57-36).
- Clos hit a 3-point jump shot to close out the scoring for the Saints in third quarter to make it a 76-43 game.
- Clos would start of the fourth quarter with a jump shot to extend the Saints lead to 78-42 with 9:35 to play.
- With 3:01 to play, sophomore Mattison Vickers (Covington, Ky./Simon Kenton) would make a jump shot to put the Saints up 90-56.
- Junior transfer Sammi Whiteman (Covington, Ky./Covington) would make the Saints final basket of the game with a jumper (95-61) with 28 seconds to play.
- The Saints would defeat the Lions 95-62 in the Round of 16 of the NAIA Women's Basketball National Championship.
- Clos would lead the Saints in the second half with eight points and had two assists.
- Hurst would lead the Saints with three assists and tallied six points and one rebound.
- Chrisman brought down four rebounds in the second half to lead the team.
- The Saints were 51.4% (19-37) from the field, 42.1% (8-19) from the 3-point line, and 50% (3-6) from the free throw line in the second half.
- Hurst led the Saints with 18 points and three assists and brought down four rebounds and had two blocks.
- Clos followed with 17 points and two assists.
- Chrisman led the Saints defensively with 10 rebounds and three blocks and she put up seven points and one assist.
- Simon recorded seven point, six rebounds, two assists, and one block.
- The Saints were 50% (34-68) from the field, 40% (16-40) from the 3-point line, and 68.8% (11-16) from the free throw line.
The Saints return to the court on Saturday at 4:00 pm ET in the Quarterfinals of the NAIA Women's Basketball National Championship against TBD.
