(SIOUX CITY, Iowa)-No. 1 seed Thomas More University women's basketball team defeated the No. 1 overall seed Cental Methodist 71-61 in the 2023 NAIA Women's Basketball Semifinals to advance the Saints to the National Championship. The Saints overall record improves to 31-3.
- Senior Courtney Hurst (Burlington, Ky./Conner) drained a 3-point jump shot to put the Saints on the board with 8:49 on the clock (3-5).
- Junior Kelly Brenner (Cincinnati, Ohio/Roger Bacon) made a 3-pointer to tie the game up at 11-11 with 2:50 to play.
- Senior Zoie Barth (Ft. Thomas, Ky./Highlands) knocked in two free throws for the Saints final basket of the first quarter (15-11).
- The Saints would lead 15-13 going into the second quarter.
- First year Rylee Turner (Newport, Ky./Newport Central Catholic) made a layup to start the scoring off in the second quarter to make it a 17-13 game with 9:28 in the half.
- Senior Emily Simon (Hilliard, Ohio/Hilliard Davidson) laid in a basket with 3:53 on the clock to put the Saints up by six (29-23).
- Courtney Hurst hit a 3-point basket with 1:25 to play in the half to extend the Saints lead to 41-27.
- The Saints would lead 41-27 going into the locker room at the half.
- Courtney Hurst would lead the Saints with nine pints and two assists.
- Emily Simon also tallied nine points to lead the team and had one assist.
- Junior Alex Smith (Cincinnati, Ohio/Mercy McAuley) tallied two assists to lead the team and had two assists and eight points.
- Ryle Turner tallied three rebounds to lead the team and had five points.
- Zoie Barth recorded three rebounds and two assists to lead the team and had five points.
- The Saints were 44.8% (13-29) from the field, 53.3% (8-15) from the 3-point line, and 87.5% (7-8) from the free throw line in the first half.
- Emily Simon made made a layup for the Saints first basket of the second half to put the Saints up by 10 with 6:05 on the clock.
- Alex Smith hit a 3-point jump shot with 4:33 to play in the third quarter to make it a 46-32 game.
- With three seconds left in the third quarter, Alex Smith knocked in a jump shot for the final basket of the quarter to give the Saints a 54-50 lead.
- Zoie Barth made a layup with 9:15 to play to put the Saints up by four for the first basket of the fourth quarter (56-52).
- Alex Smith knocked in a basket with 5:02 to play to push the Saints ahead 58-56.
- Emily Simon made the final basket of the game with a 2-point field goal to secure the Saints 71-61 win to advance to the finals.
- Alex Smith led the Saints with 16 points and had four rebounds and two assists.
- Emily Simon tallied five rebounds to lead the team and had 15 points and two assists.
- Zoie Barth also tallied five rebounds to lead the Saints and had 13 points and two rebounds.
- Courtney Hurst had three assists to lead the team and had 11 points and had three rebounds.
- Junior Rachel Martin (Cincinnati, Ohio/Summit Country Day) also tallied three assists for a team high and had two rebounds and six points.
- Rylee Turner had five rebounds to lead the team and had five points.
- The Saints were42.6% (23-54) from the field, 37.5% (9-24) from the three point line, and 84.2% (16-19) from the free throw line.
- Alex Smith led the Saints with eight points and five rebounds in the second half and had one assist.
- Zoie Barth had eight points and two assists to lead the team and had two rebounds.
- Emily Simon recorded five rebounds in the second half for a team high and had four points and one assist.
- The Saints were 40% (10-25) from the field, 11.1% (1-9) from the 3-point line, and 81.8% (9-11) from the free throw line in the second half.
The Saints return to action tomorrow (March 18) at 8:00 pm ET against the winner of #2 Clark vs #6 Dakota State in Sioux City, Iowa for the National Championship.
