(CRESTVIEW HILLS, Ky.) – The No. 1-ranked Thomas More College women's basketball team defeated La Roche College, 102-67, tonight (Friday, March 4, 2016) in the first round of the NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Championship tournament at the Connor Convocation Center in Crestview Hills, Kentucky.
With the win, the Saints remain undefeated at 28-0 and advance to play Guilford College tomorrow night at 6:30 p.m. in a second round game at the Connor Convocation Center. With the loss, the RedHawks end the season at 24-4.
Thomas More led 23-10 after one quarter, 52-19 at halftime, 74-37 after three quarters and won the game 102-67. The Saints had a 60-22 advantage in points in the paint, 32-11 off turnovers, 15-9 in second chance points and 26-2 in fast break points. Thomas More shot 54.8 percent (40-of-73) from the field and forced 24 La Roche turnovers.
Senior guard/forward Sydney Moss (St. Albans, W.Va./Boone County (Ky.)) led the team in scoring with a game-high-tying 23 points. She was joined in double-figures by sophomore guard Abby Owings (Independence, Ky./Simon Kenton) with 12 points, senior guard Kiley Bartels (Southgate, Ky./Newport Central Catholic) with 11 points and sophomore forward Nikki Kiernan (Cold Springs, Ky./Newport Central Catholic) with 10 points. Moss just missed a double-double with a game-high nine rebounds, while Kiernan added seven rebounds and Moss led the team in assists with six.
Doors will open at 5 p.m. tomorrow for second round game at the Connor Convocation Center.