Women’s Basketball falls short against Walsh

(CRESTVIEW HILLS, KY) – Thomas More University's women's basketball team fell to Walsh on Thursday evening (Feb 12) by a score of 81-77. The Saints overall record falls to 19-4 and 11-4 in conference play.
 
 

• Senior Sereniti Webb (Covington, KY / Simon Kenton / Midway) started the score with a layup at the 8:47 mark. The teams traded points for the majority of the first quarter with neither team earning more than a possession advantage.
• A quick five-point run from a senior Rylee Turner (Newport, KY / Newport Central Catholic) three pointer and a sophomore Amara Jackson (Huntington, WV / Huntington) layup gave Thomas More a six-point lead before a three-pointer from the Cavaliers ended the quarter with the Saints leading 20-17.
• Thomas More had seven different players score at least a point during the opening frame.
• Sophomore Kendall Sterling (Seymour, IN / Seymour) had the first successful possession of the second quarter with a jumper in the paint.
• The Cavaliers quickly flipped the scoreboard after a 10-0 run.
• With two minutes to play in the half, Kendall Sterling hit a shot from beyond the arc to start a 9-0 run – their largest run of the game to that point.
• Rylee Turner sent the teams to the locker room with Thomas More leading 42-38 after a pair of made free throws for her team-high twelfth point of the game. She also had a team-high five assists to lead the offense. Serentiti Webb had 10 of her own and six rebounds in the first half.

 
 

• Walsh tied the game at 45 less than a minute and a half into the second half and then got as much as a six-point lead before junior Morgan Hunt (Hollansburg, OH / Tri-Village) hit a three pointer and junior Izzy Rotert (Harrison, OH / Mercy McAuley) had a layup from a turnover.
• Rylee Turner gave Thomas More the lead back on a fast break layup for her 17^th point of the night. The Saints led 56-55 heading into the timeout.
• While both teams made baskets, the Saints maintained the lead heading into the fourth and final quarter.
• Morgan Hunt, Kendall Sterling, and Rylee Turner worked together to put a 9-2 run to open the quarter with Kendall Sterling capping it off with a fast break from a turnover three-point shot.
• Morgan Hunt's three-point shot with 5:45 remaining gave Thomas More a double digit lead at 72-62.
• The Cavaliers closed the gap in just three minutes to tie the game at 74 with 2:37 to play.
• After a couple of free throws, Walsh took the lead, and finishing the game with a pair of made free throws.
• Morgan Hunt led the offense in the second half for Thomas More with 10 points, hitting two shots from beyond the arc and going a perfect 4-4 from the free throw line. Rylee Turner pulled down five rebounds and added seven more points to her total.
• Kendall Sterling had all three of her steals in the second half.

 
 

• Rylee Turner led the offense with a game-high 19 points. She also tallied 9 rebounds, 7 assists, and two blocks.
• Sereniti Webb (15), Morgan Hunt (13), and Kendall Sterling (12) were the other double-digit shooters for the Saints. Sereniti Webb earned a double-double with 10 rebounds. Morgan Hunt and Kendall Sterling each had three steals.
• Izzy Rotert had two steals, three blocks, and six defensive rebounds to lead the defensive effort.

 
 
The Saints will host the Malone University Pioneers on Saturday (Feb. 14). Tip off is scheduled for 1:00 pm.