(CRESTVIEW HILLS, Ky.) – The No. 4-ranked Thomas More College women's basketball team defeated Illinois Wesleyan University, 77-70, tonight (Thursday, December 29, 2016) in a non-conference game at the Connor Convocation Center in Crestview Hills, Kentucky.

With the win, the Saints remain undefeated at 10-0 and with the loss, the Titans fall to 5-5.

The Saints led 18-12 after one quarter and out-scored the Titans 19-15 in the second quarter to build a 37-27 lead at halftime.

Illinois Wesleyan opened the third quarter on a 28-20 run to cut the Saints lead to 57-55 when Molly McGraw made a jumper with 50-second to play in the quarter.  Thomas More closed out the quarter on a 3-1run to extend the lead to 60-56 after three quarter when sophomore guard Madison Temple (Cincinnati, Ohio/Anderson) made a three-throw with one-second to play in the quarter.

In the fourth quarter the Titans cut the lead to three points on four occasions, but the Saints out-scored Illinois Wesleyan 17-14 in the quarter to claim the 77-70 victory.

Thomas More out-scored the Titans 60-32 in the paint and 14-5 on fast break points.

Junior guard Abby Owings (Independence, Ky./Simon Kenton) led the team in scoring with a game-high 17 points.  Joining her in double-figures was junior forward Nikki Kiernan (Cold Springs, Ky./Newport Central Catholic) with 16 and senior forward Kirsten Paul (Cincinnati, Ohio/Cincinnati Christian) with 10.  Owings, Kiernan and Temple led the team on the boards with six rebounds each, while Owings and Temple led the team in assists with six each.  Owings led the team in steals with six.

Thomas More returns to action on January 3, 2017 when it travels to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to play Chatham University at 6 p.m.