(CRESTVIEW HILLS, Ky.) – The No. 3-ranked Thomas More College women's basketball team scored the first eight points of the game tonight (Friday, March 2, 2018) and never looked back as it defeated Oglethorpe University, 84-58, in an NCAA Division III Championship Tournament first round game at the Connor Convocation Center in Crestview Hills, Kentucky.

With the win, the Saints improve to 27-1 and advance to play Juniata College tomorrow at 6:30 p.m. in a second round game at the Connor Convocation Center.  Juniata defeated Piedmont College, 63-52, in the other first round game tonight.  With the loss, the Stormy Petrels end the season at 21-8.

The Saints raced out to n 8-0 lead with 9:05 to play in the first quarter when senior guard Abby Owings (Independence, Ky./Simon Kenton) made a three-pointer.  Thomas More extended the lead to as many as 18 points in the first quarter before leading 30-15 after one quarter.  The Saints extended the lead to 47-27 at halftime and then led 47-27 after three quarters out-scoring Oglethorpe 20-14 in the fourth quarter to post the 84-58 victory.

Thomas More shot 50 percent (32-64) from the field and held Oglethorpe to 31 percent (18-of-58).  The Saints had a 38-10 advantage in the paint and 28-11 in second chance points.

The Saints had four players score in double-figures and were led by junior guard Madison Temple (Cincinnati, Ohio/Anderson) with a game-high 19 points.  Joining her in double figures was Owings with 15, senior forward Nikki Kiernan (Cold Spring, Ky./Newport Central Catholic) with 14 and junior forward Shelby Rupp (Milan, Ind./Batesville) with 12.  Sophomore forward Emily Schultz (Melbourne, Ky./Bishop Brossart) led the team on the boards with 10 rebounds, while Temple pulled down nine.  Owings led the team in assists with seven and steals with two, while Kiernan led the team in blocks with two.