(CRESTVIEW HILLS, Ky.) – Sophomore guard Madison Temple (Cincinnati, Ohio/Anderson) scored a game-high 18 points to lead the No. 4-ranked Thomas More College women's basketball team to a 96-68 win over Wittenberg University today (Saturday, November 26, 2016) on the first day of the 15th Annual Julie Costello Memorial Classic presented by Barleycorn's at the Connor Convocation Center in Crestview Hills, Kentucky.
With the win, the Saints improve to 3-0 and with the loss, the Tigers fall to 1-3.
Wittenberg jumped out to an early 5-4 lead when Alex Kiess made a three-pointer with 7:46 to play in the first quarter. The Saints responded with an 18-5 run to build a 22-10 lead with 18-seconds to play in the opening quarter when junior forward Nikki Kiernan (Cold Springs, Ky./Newport Central Catholic) made a three-pointer. Wittenberg's Amanda Raber made a jumper with five-seconds to play in the quarter to cut the Saints' lead to 22-12 after one quarter.
Thomas More out-scored Wittenberg 26-9 in the second quarter to take a 48-21 lead at halftime when junior guard Abby Owings (Independence, Ky./Simon Kenton) made two free-throws with 12 seconds to play in the quarter. The Saints extended their lead to as many as 42 points in the third quarter as they out-scored Wittenberg 29-16 in the third stanza. The Tigers out-scored the Saints 31-19 in the fourth quarter, but Thomas More cruised to the 96-68 victory.
Thomas More out-scored the Tigers 44-22 in the paint, 37-15 off turnovers and 27-6 on fast break points.
Joining Temple in double-figure scoring was Owings with 17 points and Kiernan with 12 points. First-year guard Taylor Jolly (Alexandria, Ky./Campbell County) just missed double-figures with nine points. Senior forward Kirsten Paul (Cincinnati, Ohio/Cincinnati Christian) led the team on the boards with seven rebounds, while Owings led the team in assists with five.
Thomas More will return to action tomorrow as it will play Denison University at 4 p.m. on the second day of the Julie Costello Classic.