(CRESTVIEW HILLS, Ky.) – The No. 2/3-ranked Thomas More College women's basketball team jumped out to a 21-8 lead tonight (Friday, March 3, 2017) and never looked back as it defeated Eureka College, 97-58, in the first round of the NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Championship at the Connor Convocation Center in Crestview Hills, Kentucky.

With the win, the Saints improve to 28-0 and advance to the second round of the NCAA Championship.  Thomas More will play No. 15-18-ranked Hope College tomorrow at 6:30 p.m. at the Connor Convocation Center.  With the loss, the Red Devils end the season at 20-8.

The Saints led 23-11 after one quarter, 46-20 at halftime and 67-36 after three quarters.  Thomas More out-scored Eureka 42-18 in the paint, 22-12 off turnovers and 12-9 on second chance points.

Thomas More shot 50.8 percent (31-of-61) from the field, while it forced the Red Devils to shot 26.6 percent (17-of-64).

Junior forward Nikki Kiernan (Cold Springs, Ky./Newport Central Catholic) led he Saints in scoring with a game-high 22 points.  Joining her in double-figure scoring was sophomore guard Madison Temple (Cincinnati, Ohio/Anderson) with 13 points and junior guard Abby Owings (Independence, Ky./Simon Kenton) with 12 points.  Temple led Thomas More on the boards with eight rebounds, while senior forward Kirsten Paul (Cincinnati, Ohio/Cincinnati Christian) pulled down seven rebounds.  First-year guard Kylie Kramer (Alexandria, Ky./Bishop Brossart) led the team in assists with five, while sophomore forward Shelby Rupp (Milan, Ind./Batesville) led the team in blocks with four.