(CRESTVIEW HILLS, KY)- Thomas More University women's basketball team took on Walsh at home on Thursday (Jan. 25) evening. The Saints defeated Walsh by a score of 54 to 40. Thomas More improves to an overall record of 12-7 and a Great Midwest Athletic Conference record of 8-4. Sophomore
Rylee Turner (Newport, KY / Newport Central Catholic) led the way for the Saints by recording a double double of 12 points and 12 rebounds.
- Senior Kelly Brenner (Cincinnati, OH / Roger Bacon) got the Saints started with a three pointer off an assist from senior Maggie Jones (Piner, KY / Simon Kenton) to put the Saints out in front (3-2).
- First year Morgan Hunt (Hollansburg, OH / Tri-Village) and junior Callie Hunt (Trenton, OH / Edgewood) got a scoring run started with back to back threes to take a one point lead (9-8).
- First year Rylee Leonard (Sardinia, OH / Eastern Brown) makes three free-throws to close out the opening quarter for the Saints on a 9 point scoring run (12-8).
- Kelly Brenner opened the second quarter with a triple off a Maggie Jones assist for the Saints (15-8).
- Maggie Jones ends a Walsh scoring run with a jumper off an assist from senior Alex Smith (Cincinnati, OH / Mercy McAuley) (17-19).
- Kelly Brenner knocks down a jumper with 3:59 to go in the half to tie it up at 19.
- Thomas More trailed at the half by a score of 23 to 19.
- Thomas More shot 6-27 (22.2%) from the field and 4-15 (26.7%) from beyond the three point line for the half.
- Rylee Turner led the Saints in rebounding with 9 rebounds in the half.
- Kelly Brenner led the Saints in scoring 8 first half points.
- Rylee Turner got the Saints started in the second half with an "and-one" on a fast break to bring the Saints within one (22-23).
- Rylee Leonard and Morgan Hunt scored back to back fast break layups to force a Walsh timeout and take the lead for the Saints (26-23).
- Rylee Turner scores five straight points which included a three pointer to extend the Saint lead to eight with 6:47 to go in the quarter (31-23).
- Alex Smith makes a layup and gets fouled with 3:41 to go to keep it at an eight point game (35-27).
- Saints knock down some free throws before the end of the quarter to take a 39 to 28 lead.
- Senior Mattison Vickers (Covington, KY / Simon Kenton) scored the first basket of the quarter for the Saints to make it a twelve point lead (43-31).
- Senior Hailie Morgan (Cincinnati, OH / Seton) scores on a pass from Mattison Vickers to put the Saints back in front by double figures (45-34).
- Senior Rachel Martin (Cincinnati, OH / Summit Country Day) scored her first points of the ballgame on a fastbreak following a steal with 5:40 to go (47-34).
- With 2:44 to go Morgan Hunt finds Callie Hunt for a layup to push the lead back to ten (50-40).
- Saints go on to win by a score of 54 to 40.
- Thomas More shot 17-51 (33.3%) from the field, 5-23 (21.7%) from beyond the three point line, and 15-18 (83.3%) from the free-throw line.
- Rylee Turner led the Saints with a double double of 12 points and 12 rebounds with 3 steals and 2 assists.
- Rylee Leonard recorded 9 points in the contest along with 3 steals and an assist.
- Morgan Hunt recorded a team high 3 assists in the contest to go with 6 points and 2 steals.
- Ten different Saints scored in the ballgame.
The Saints return to action on Thursday (Feb. 1) when they travel to Cedarville, Ohio to take on Cedarville University. That game is scheduled to tip-off at 6:00 PM.
