(CRESTVIEW HILLS, Ky.) – The fifth-ranked Thomas More women's basketball team remained undefeated tonight (Wednesday, January 11, 2017) as it defeated Waynesburg University, 84-52, in a Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) game at the Connor Convocation Center in Crestview Hills, Kentucky.
With the win, the Saints improve to 14-0 overall and 7-0 in the PAC. With the loss, the Yellow Jackets fall to 8-6 overall and 4-3 in the PAC.
Waynesburg took an early 6-4 lead when Haley Delaney made a jumper at the 6:04 mark of the first quarter. The Saints answered as they closed out the quarter on a 16-6 run to take a 20-12 lead after the first quarter when first-year forward Emily Schultz (Melbourne, Ky./Bishop Brossart) made a jumper with 33-seconds to play in the quarter. The Yellow Jackets opened the second quarter on a 9-6 run to cut the lead to 26-21 with 6:33 to play in the quarter when Delaney made a three-pointer. Thomas More closed out the second quarter on a 17-6 run capped by a three-pointer by junior guard Abby Owings (Independence, Ky./Simon Kenton) at the buzzer to give the Saints a 43-27 lead at halftime.
Thomas More dominated the second half as it out-scored Waynesburg 26-16 in the third quarter to lead 69-43 after three quarters and 15-9 in the final stanza to cruise to the 84-52 victory.
The Saints out-scored the Yellow Jackets 70-18 in the paint, 24-4 off turnovers and 18-0 in fast break points.
Junior forward Nikki Kiernan (Cold Springs, Ky./Newport Central Catholic) led all scorers with 18 points. Joining her in double-figures was Owings with 16 points, Schultz with 12 points and sophomore guard Madison Temple (Cincinnati, Ohio/Anderson) with 11 points. Temple just missed a triple-double as she pulled down a team-high eight rebounds and dished out a game-high nine assists. Kiernan led the team in blocks with five, while Owings led the team in steals with four.
The Saints return to action on Saturday (January 14) when they host Washington & Jefferson College at 1 p.m. inside the Connor Convocation Center.