Thomas More women remain perfect (21-0) after rallying for 78-75 win at UT-Dallas on Saturday night

NKyTribune staff

Madison Temple scored a career-high 35 points and grabbed 10 rebounds as the Thomas More University women’s basketball team rallied for a 78-75 road win over 19th-ranked University of Texas at Dallas on Saturday.

Temple netted 20 points in the second half to lead Thomas More to the key road victory. The Saints, ranked No. 2 nationally in the NCAA Division III poll, are now 21-0 and have beaten seven nationally ranked teams this season.

Shelby Rupp also recorded a double-double for Thomas More with 20 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks. The Saints rallied from a 42-38 halftime deficit to pull out the win in the final minute of regulation.

UT-Dallas owned a 74-70 lead with 1:07 left in the game, but Thomas More used a 5-0 run to gain a 75-74 advantage on Rupp’s basket with 12 seconds remaining. Brianna McNutt later made a pair of free throws with four seconds left to make it a 78-75 game, and the Comets missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer.

Thomas More shot 47.1 percent from the field and held UT-Dallas to 39.7 percent shooting, including 4-of-25 from 3-point range. The Comets are now 9-4.

 Asyah Mitchell added 10 points and two steals for Thomas More, which will play at 12th-ranked Mary Hardin-Baylor at 8 p.m. Monday.

(Information compiled from Thomas More and staff reports)