The Thomas More women’s basketball team continues to dominate the NAIA, receiving all 21 first-place votes in the latest NAIA Coaches’ Poll Wednesday morning. With a record of 17-0 and 11-0 in the Mid-South Conference, the team remains undefeated this season.
Since the last polls came out on Dec. 14, the team has won four road games and five games overall, including a 67-60 victory over Freed-Hardeman University, a 90-52 victory over Bethel University (Tenn.), a 122-61 victory over West Virginia Tech, a 78-66 victory over No. 3 Campbellsville University, and a 70-56 victory over Lindsey Wilson College.
Their 122 points scored at West Virginia Tech were the most scored in a game for the Saints since a 127-34 victory over Thiel College on Feb. 25, 2014. Their win against Campbellsville was particularly significant as it gave them sole possession of the MSC lead and marked their fifth victory over a ranked opponent this season.
The Saints’ well-rounded performance is driven by four players averaging over 10 points per game and five players having scored over 100 points this season. Zoie Barth (Fort Thomas, Ky./Highlands) leads the team in points (230), assists (56), and is tied with Rachel Martin (Cincinnati, Ohio/Summit Country Day) for the team lead in steals with 26. Senior Emily Simon (Hilliard, Ohio/Hilliard Davidson) leads the team with 110 rebounds, and first year Rylee Turner (Newport, Ky./Newport Central Catholic) leads with 25 blocks.
Offensively, they are tied for eighth in the NAIA in field-goal percentage at 46.1% on the season and are sixth in three-point percentage at 37.5%. Defensively, they are 14th in opponent’s points allowed per game at 55.1.
Thomas More returns to the floor tomorrow evening in Lebanon, Tennessee against the Cumberland University Phoenix at 6:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. CT. They beat Cumberland 63-40 on Dec. 3 and will look to continue their winning streak. With such a strong record and a skilled team, the Saints are a force to be reckoned with in the world of NAIA women’s basketball.
