Saints Battle Back, Fall Short Against Kentucky Wesleyan

(OWENSBORO, KY)-Thomas More University's women's basketball team lost to Kentucky Wesleyan on Saturday afternoon (Feb 17), 57-52. The Saints overall records moves to 15-9 and 11-6 in conference play.

• Senior Kelly Brenner (Cincinnati, OH / Roger Bacon) got the Saints on the scoreboard with a layup (2-6).
• Baskets from senior Alex Smith (Cincinnati, OH / Mercy McAuley) and first year Rylee Leonard (Sardinia, Ohio/Eastern Brown) tie the game up (6-6).
• Alex Smith gives the Saints their first lead of the game with a layup with 3:21 to go in the quarter (8-6).
• Kentucky Wesleyan goes on a 9-0 run to end the opening quarter (8-15).
• Sophomore Rylee Turner (Newport, Ky./Newport Central Catholic) ended the Panther run with a basket to open the second quarter (10-15).
• With 7:26 to go in the half, Kelly Brenner knocks down a three pointer to cut into the Kentucky Wesleyan lead (15-23).
• Rylee Leonard converts on an "and-one" with 2:09 to go (20-36).
• Saints trail at half time by a score of 38 to 21.
• Rylee Leonard and Kelly Brenner led the Saints offensively with 5 points each in the half.

• Rylee Turner opened the second half with a jumper for the first Saint points (23-38).
• Senior Mattison Vickers (Covington, KY / Simon Kenton) knocks down a three pointer with 5:21 to go in the quarter to bring the Saints within 9.
• Back to back three pointers from Kelly Brenner and first year Morgan Hunt (Hollansburg, OH / Tri-Village Local Schools) to make it a three point game (35-38).
• Two straight baskets from Alex Smith brings the Saints within one point heading into the final quarter and capping off an 18 to 2 run (39-40).
• With 6:49 to go in the game, Rylee Turner makes a basket and gets fouled to tie the game up at 42.
• Rylee Turner knocks down a pair of free throws to give Thomas More their first lead since the early stages of the game (44-42).
• With 2:42 to go, Alex Smith finds Rylee Turner for a three pointer to make it a 49 to 48 game.
• Alex Smiths drills a three pointer with 19 seconds to go to make it a three point game (52-55).
• Thomas More falls to Kentucky Wesleyan by a score of 57 to 52.
• Thomas More shot 19-66 (28.8%) from the field and 6-26 (23.1%) from beyond the three point line. 

• Rylee Turner led the Saints in scoring with 15 points on the day. She also tallied 8 rebounds, 3 assists and a block.
• Alex Smith recorded a team high 9 rebounds to go with 13 points and an assist.
• Kelly Brenner scored 8 points to go with 3 assists for the Saints.

The Saints return to action on Thursday (Feb 22) against Ashland in Ashland Oh. at 5:30 pm ET.