(CRESTVIEW HILLS, Ky.) - The 13th-ranked Thomas More College women's basketball team defeated Grove City College, 71-45, tonight (Wednesday, November 28, 2012) in both teams' Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) opener at the Connor Convocation Center in Crestview Hills, Kentucky.

With the win, the Saints improve to 5-1 overall and 1-0 in the PAC.  With the loss, the Wolverines fall to 1-2 overall and 0-1 in the PAC. 

Thomas More jumped out an early 4-0 lead when senior guard Allison Long (Hebron, Ky./Conner) made a lay-up with 19:02 to play in the first half.  Grove City answered with a 13-7 run to take a 13-11 lead with 13:13 to play in the first half when Kelsey Shirey made a three-pointer.  Junior guard Devin Beasley (Burlington, Ky./Conner) converted an old fashion three-point play to cap a 24-12 run which gave the Saints a 35-25 lead with 2:08 to play in the opening half.  Grove City closed out the half on a 5-2 run to cut the Saints' lead to 37-30 at intermission when Ausinette Rodriguez made a jumper with 28-seconds to play in the half.

The Saints opened the second half on an 11-3 run extend the lead to 48-33 with 16:18 to play in the second half when sophomore forward Jenny Burgoyne (Cincinnati, Ohio/McAuley) converted an old fashion three-point play.  The Wolverines used a 4-2 run to cut the lead to 50-37 on a Rodriguez lay-up with 15:25 to play in the game.  Thomas More closed out the game on a 21-8 run for the 71-45 victory.

Two Saints finished in double-figure scoring as Long had 20 points and Burgoyne had 13 points.  The team was led in rebounding by Long, junior guard Nakharra Gaines (Fairdale, Ky./Fairdale) and junior forward Moriah Corey (Louisville, Ky./Butler), who each had five rebounds in the game.  Beasley led the team in assists with five.

Thomas More returns to action on Saturday (December 1) when it travels to Waynesburg, Pennsylvania to play Waynesburg University.  Tip-off is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. at the Rudy Marisa Fieldhouse.