TMC women cruise to easy victory; IU Hoosiers use second-half rally to defeat NKU women; TMC men win

By Don Owen
NKyTribune reporter

Thomas More College opened the game with a 45-8 spurt and rolled to an 86-28 win over Chatham University in a women’s basketball contest Saturday at the Connor Convocation Center.

Madison Temple scored 18 points and collected four steals for Thomas More, which improved to 8-1 overall, 4-0 in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference. Temple, who was named the PAC Player of the Week on Monday, also dished out three assists in 21 minutes of action. Abby Owings added 17 points and five assists as the Saints limited Chatham (2-6 overall, 1-3 PAC) to just 18.2 percent shooting from the field.

Nikki Kiernan finished with 13 points and seven rebounds for Thomas More, which has not lost to a PAC opponent since Jan. 14, 2012, when Saint Vincent College pulled out a 68-65 victory in Latrobe, Pa.

The NCAA forced Thomas More to vacate every win during the 2014-15 season due to an eligibility issue, wiping out 20 victories against PAC schools.

Thomas More shot 50.7 percent from the field and overpowered the visitors on the boards, finishing with a 54-26 advantage in rebounds. Emily Schultz led the Saints with nine rebounds, while Hayden White added eight boards.

Shelby Rupp chipped in seven points for Thomas More, while teammates Briana McNutt and Kelly Clapper each scored six points.

Thomas More, which is ranked No. 10 nationally in the NCAA Division III poll, takes a week off for final exams before traveling to Hawaii to meet Willamette University on Dec. 19. That game is part of the Hoop N’ Surf Classic on the island of Oahu.

The Saints will meet Christopher Newport University on Dec. 20 to close out the two-day event.

IU WOMEN DEFEAT NKU: Tyra Buss netted a game-high 25 points, and Indiana held NKU to 33.3 percent shooting from the field as the Hoosiers rallied in the second half for a 67-56 victory over the Norse at BB&T Arena on Saturday night.

NKU (1-7) held a 25-24 lead at halftime and was tied with Indiana at 37-all in the third quarter, but the Hoosiers (6-4) ran off 13 consecutive points to gain a 50-37 advantage with 7:45 left in the game. Amanda Cahill scored five points during the Indiana spurt, while Buss and Linsey Marchese each netted four points.

Cahill finished with 12 points and nine rebounds, and Kym Royster chipped in 12 points for Indiana before fouling out. The Hoosiers converted 11 of 13 free throws in the fourth quarter to seal the win. The visitors made 79.3 percent (23-for-29) of their free throws for the game.

Molly Glick led NKU with 17 points and eight rebounds. Taryn Taugher added eight points for the Norse, and teammate Kailey Coffey scored seven points.

NKU plays at North Florida on Dec. 19, followed by a game at Jacksonville on Dec. 20.

TMC MEN POST 81-58 VICTORY: Damion King collected a double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds as the Thomas More men posted an 81-58 win over Chatham on Saturday in the Connor Convocation Center.

Thomas More (6-3 overall, 3-1 PAC) connected on 54.8 percent from the field, including 11-for-22 shooting from 3-point range. Ralph Stone scored 11 points, grabbed seven rebounds and added five assists for the Saints.

Michael Griffin buried a trio of 3-pointers to finish with nine points for Thomas More, which limited Chatham (4-5, 1-3 PAC) to 37.9 percent shooting from the field. Brandon Horne added nine points and seven rebounds as the Saints controlled the inside, finishing with a 43-23 advantage on the boards.

Thomas More will play host to Franklin College on Dec. 19 at 7 p.m.

WEYER HELPS BU REMAIN PERFECT: Newport Central Catholic graduate Ben Weyer scored 11 of his 13 points in the first half Saturday night as Bellarmine defeated Midway (Ky.), 93-49, at Louisville.

Weyer made a trio of 3-pointers in the first half as unbeaten Bellarmine (9-0) built a 45-27 lead at the break. The sophomore forward also finished with six rebounds and three assists as Bellarmine won its 48th consecutive home game, the nation’s longest current streak by any NCAA school.

Weyer is second on the team in scoring (12.3 points per game) and tops Bellarmine in 3-pointers made with 24. He is also shooting 53.3 percent from 3-point range and averages 4.2 rebounds per contest.

Contact Don Owen at don@nkytrib.com