Temple scores 2,000th career point, Thomas More women remain unbeaten (25-0) with 96-54 win

NKyTribune staff

Thomas More University women’s basketball standout Madison Temple joined an exclusive club Sunday afternoon during her final regular-season home game.

Temple scored her 2,000th career point as Thomas More remained unbeaten with a 96-54 win over Wilberforce at the Connor Convocation Center. Temple — who was honored in pregame ceremonies along with fellow seniors Kelly Clapper, Michaela Ware and Shelby Rupp — finished with 19 points and seven assists as the second-ranked Saints improved to 25-0.

A native of Cincinnati, Temple now has 2,004 career points and 538 assists — both Thomas More records. Temple scored her 16th point of the game at the 8:56 mark of the third quarter to reach the 2,000-point mark. She also grabbed eight rebounds and made a pair of 3-pointers.

Rupp scored 20 points and grabbed seven rebounds for Thomas More. Emily Schultz added 14 points and five rebounds as the Saints dominated the inside and finished with a 43-23 advantage in rebounds.

The Thomas More senior class is 116-3 during the past four years, including a 55-1 record at the Connor Convocation Center. They also helped the Saints win an NCAA Division III national championship and three Presidents’ Athletic Conference titles in the past four years.

Wilberforce (12-12) shot just 33.3 percent from the field and was 4-for-16 from 3-point range. Thomas More jumped out to a 25-14 lead after one quarter and coasted to its 25th straight victory.

Thomas More has not lost a regular-season game in more than a year. The Saints’ last defeat in the regular season occurred on Nov. 18, 2017, when Rochester (N.Y.) pulled out a 61-58 win over visiting Thomas More.

Thomas More will play in the American Collegiate Athletic Association Tournament next weekend at Alfred, N.Y. The NCAA Division III Tournament field will be announced Feb. 25, and the Saints could be one of the host institutions for the early rounds.

A year ago, Thomas More advanced to the NCAA Division III Final Four. The Saints are in their final season of competing as a member of the NCAA, having accepted an invitation to join the NAIA and the Mid-South Conference in 2019-20.

THOMAS MORE 96, WILBERFORCE 54

WILBERFORCE (12-12)
Malika Wildon 5-10 0-0 12; Allayah Hughes 4-10 3-3 12; Lea Coulter 3-6 2-2 9; Amaiah Jones 3-9 3-3 9; Alexis Shealey 1-5 4-5 6; Camille Headen 1-3 0-0 2; Yamiah Lyons 1-2 0-0 2; British Keys 1-2 0-0 2; Jasmine Flowers 0-3 0-0 0; Alexandra Shealey 0-3 0-0 0; Lynese Brown 0-1 0-0 0; Amali Smith 0-3 0-2 0. Totals 19-57 12-15 54.

THOMAS MORE (25-0)
Shelby Rupp 6-12 7-7 20; Madison Temple 7-15 3-4 19; Emily Schultz 5-5 4-6 14; Kaela Saner 3-6 0-0 9; Kelly Clapper 3-5 0-0 7; Briana McNutt 3-4 0-0 7; Megan Buckner 2-3 0-0 4; Syarra Sellers 1-1 2-2 4; Asyah Mitchell 1-1 0-0 3; Lucy Carrigan 0-1 2-2 2; Caroline Buddenberg 1-1 0-0 2; Kylie Anderson 0-2 2-2 2; Michaela Ware 1-1 0-0 2; Jules Howard 0-1 1-2 1; Hayden White 0-4 0-0 0; Allison Gribben 0-1 0-0 0; Heaven Evans 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 33-63 21-25 96.

Wilberforce………………….   14   15   11   14  –   54
Thomas More……………….   25   22   24   25  –   96

3-point goals–Wilberforce 4-16 (Malika Wildon 2-5; Lea Coulter 1-2; Allayah Hughes 1-3; Alexandra Shealey 0-1; Amali Smith 0-2; Alexis Shealey 0-2; Amaiah Jones 0-1), Thomas More 9-21 (Kaela Saner 3-6; Madison Temple 2-6; Shelby Rupp 1-2; Briana McNutt 1-2; Asyah Mitchell 1-1; Kelly Clapper 1-2; Kylie Anderson 0-1; Jules Howard 0-1).

(Information compiled from Thomas More and staff reports)