Saints Hang Tough With #1 Ashland

Box Score (CRESTVIEW HILLS, KY)-Thomas More University women's basketball falls to the #1 ranked Ashland Eagles on Saturday afternoon (December, 9th) by a score of 70 to 62. The Saints fall to an overall record of 4-4 and a Great Midwest Athletic record of 2-2.

• Senior Rachel Martin (Cincinnati, OH / Summit Country Day) got the Saints started with a layup to put Thomas More out in front (2-0).
• Senior Alex Smith (Cincinnati, Ohio/Mercy McAuley) scores inside to end an Ashland run (8-11).
• Alex Smith scores the next four Saint points to keep it a one score game (12-14).
• Senior Mattison Vickers (Covington, KY / Simon Kenton) knocks down a three pointer in the final seconds of the opening quarter to make it a one point game (18-19).
• Mattison Vickers opens the second quarter with a layup to give the Saints the lead (20-19).
• First year Morgan Hunt (Hollansburg, OH / Tri-Village) makes a driving layup to extend the lead to 3, (22-19).
• Rachel Martin drains a three pointer off an assist from first year Rylee Leonard (Sardinia, Ohio/Eastern Brown) to get the Saints back in from midway thru the quarter (27-25).
• First year Desiree Tandy (Danville, KY / Danville) finds Rylee Leonard for a layup, (29-28).
• At the break Ashland leads 34-33.
• Alex Smith led the Saints with 8 points at the half.
• Both Mattison Vickers and Rachel Martin recorded 7 points in the half.
• Saints shot 10 for 24 (41.7%) from the field.

• Alex Smith hit a three pointer off a pass from Rachel Martin for the first Saint points of the half (36-44).
• Alex Smith makes back to back jumpers to put the Saints within 9 at the end of the third quarter (42-51).
• Rachel Martin scores the first Thomas More points in the fourth on a triple off a pass from Alex Smith (45-53).
• Maggie Jones and Rachel Martin each make driving layups midway thru the quarter (51-60).
• Maggie Jones and Rachel Martin make another back to back buckets to put the Saints within five with four to play.
• Rylee Leonard drains a three pointer to make it a 64 to 59 game with 1:38 to play.
• Final Score, Ashland 70, Thomas More 62.
• Saints shot 20 for 51 from the field (39.2%).

• Alex Smith and Rachel Martin led the Saints with 16 points each.
• Alex Smith also recorded 5 rebounds, 2 assists and 3 steals.
• Rachel Martin also tallied 5 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals.
• Rylee Leonard recorded 8 points, a rebound and an assist.

The Saints return to action on Thursday (December, 14th) when they travel to North Canton, OH to face off against Walsh. That tip is set for 5:30 PM.