Presidents' Athletic Conference Regular Season Champs: 2006, 2007
Presidents' Athletic Conference Tournament Champs: 2007

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03/25/08

Another AA Honor for Thiem

The residual effects of Thomas More's magical season continues to yield individual honors for junior Jayme Thiem (Cold Spring/Newport Central Catholic).

     A 5-7 guard, Thiem earned her third All-America laurel when the Women's DIII News tabbed her third team All-America. The Women's DIII News honors is added to the third team honor by D3hoops.com and the honorable mention nod by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA).

     The 2008 Presidents' Athletic Conference Player of the Year helped Thomas More to an unbeaten regular season and the Saints' second straight PAC championship. She averaged a team-high 14.1 points with 91 steals, and was second with 4.5 rebounds and 88 assists.

     Thomas More fell to Oglethorpe in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, and finished the season at 29-1.

03/21/08

Thiem Named All-America

For the second time in as many days, Thomas More junior guard Jayme Thiem (Cold Spring/Newport Central Catholic) has been named All-America.

     On Friday, she was named honorable mention All-America by the Women's Basketball Coaches Assocation (WBCA), then D3hoops.com tabbed the 5-7 guard third team All-American

    "For her to come out of our region - one of the best regions in the country - is a tremendous individual honor and its an honor for our program," said head coach Brian Neal. "She is a talented player that has raised the level of program, and the level of her teammates around her."

     The 2008 Presidents' Athletic Conference Player of the Year was one of 40 finalists selected by the WBCA, but was not named to the 10-member State Farm WBCA team. She is the first Thomas More player to earn the honor under Neal.

    "It's a great honor to be named as one of the best players in the country," said Thiem. "This honor wouldn't be possible without all of the things our team accomplished this season."

     Thiem helped Thomas More to an unbeaten regular season and the Saints' second straight PAC championship. She averaged a team-high 14.1 points with 91 steals, and was second with 4.5 rebounds and 88 assists.

     Thomas More fell to Oglethorpe in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, and finished the season at 29-1.

03/19/08

Quartet Highlight Regional team

The honors are starting to roll in for the Thomas More women's basketball team

     Junior guard Jayme Thiem (Cold Spring/Newport Central Catholic) was named first-team Great Lakes Region by D3hoops.com. In addition, head coach Brian Neal received the website's regional Coach of the Year nod. Both are in the running for national honors.

     Thiem, the 2008 Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) Player of the Year, helped guide Thomas More to an unbeaten regular season and the Saints' second straight PAC championship. She averaged a team-high 14.1 points with 91 steals, and was second with 4.5 rebounds and 88 assists.

     Senior Tandrea Sellers (Florence/Boone County) earned second-team honors, while freshman Nicole Dickman (Park Hills/Notre Dame Academy) received third-team honors. Sellers, a first-team PAC selection, was second on the team with 10.6 points and third with 4.5 rebounds. A second-team conference selection, Dickman led Thomas More with 7.1 rebounds and was third with 10.1 points.

     Thomas More finished the season at 29-1 after falling to 2008 Final Four member Oglethorpe in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

03/08/08

Magical Season Comes to end

For the first time all season, the Thomas More women's basketball team had to taste defeat. Unfortunately, they will have to wait until next season to rebound as they lost in the second round of the NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Championships Saturday to Oglethorpe, 65-55, at the Connor Convocation Center.

     The Stormy Petrels, ranked 24th in the country, scored 19 of the last 25 points to post the victory and to advance to the Round of 16 for the first time in school history.

     Thomas More trailed by eight at the break, but a 14-4 run capped by a Alex Gee (Cincinnati, OH/Glen Este) three-pointer gave Thomas More a three-point lead. But, Oglethorpe responded with a 9-0 run to reclaim a lead it wouldn't relinquish.

     Freshman Nicole Dickman (Park Hills/Notre Dame Academy) was pretty dominant in the post, going 7-of-11 from the field for a team-high 16 points. However, a quick third foul in the second half limited her effectiveness. She was the only player to reach double figures for Thomas More.

     Oglethorpe, which starts five guards, held a huge rebounding edge - outrebounding Thomas More, 50-30. The Stormy Petrels added a 16-6 edge on the offensive glass.

     Senior Tandrea Sellers (Florence/Boone County) finished her career with nine points, nine rebounds and three blocks. She is part of a senior class of Jennifer Teski (Cincinnati, OH/Glen Este), Amanda Link (Cincinnati, OH/Glen Este) and Jenna Kelsch (Foster/Pendleton County) that finished their careers as the all-time winningest class with 87 victories. The 87 wins makes them the first class to average 20-plus for their careers.

03/07/08

Saints Move On

Juniors Jayme Thiem (Cold Spring/Newport Central Catholic) and Gabby Johnson (McCordsville, IN/Mount Vernon) had back-to-back steals to spark a 19-6 run that enabled Thomas More to advance to the second round of the NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Championships with a 76-63 victory over Greensboro Friday at the Connor Convocation Center.

     Thomas More turned its defense up during the second-half run that stretched more than seven minutes, holding the Pride to 3-of-10 shooting as the Saints stretched a three-point lead to 16.

     Rebounding was the key for the Saints as they held GC to just one offensive rebound in the second half. Greensboro entered the game third nationally in rebounding margin at +12, but Thomas More turned the tables on its visitors as they won the battle on the glass, 39-34. Not only did the Saints keep the Pride off the offensive glass, they capitalize on their own second chance opportunities.  Thomas More scored nine second-chance points on six offensive rebounds.

      Greensboro tooks its largest of the game at three points after the Pride went on a 7-0 run in the latter portion of the first half. But an offensive rebound by freshman Nicole Dickman (Park Hills/Notre Dame Academy) off a missed free throw and three-pointer by Thiem got Thomas More back on track as they claimed a six-point halftime lead.

     Thiem led the way with 21 points, four steals, three assists, two blocks and two rebounds. Senior Tandrea Sellers (Florence/Boone County) and freshman Caitlyn Mauch (Dayton, OH/Archbishop Alter) added 12 points for Thomas More. The 12 points tied a career-high for Mauch.

     Thomas More (29-0) will host Oglethorpe 7 p.m. Saturday.

 

03/03/08

TMC hosting NCAA's

The Thomas More women’s basketball team will host the first and second rounds of the NCAA Women’s Division III tournament.

     The 28-0 Saints, championships of the Presidents’ Athletic Conference, will open tournament action 7:30 p.m. Friday with Greensboro (NC). The Pride (21-7) received the automatic bid as winners of the USA South.

     The other game, slated for a 5:30 p.m. start, will match up Piedmont (24-3) with Ogelthorpe (23-5). The Piedmont Lions are the winners of the Great South Conference, while the Stormy Petrels received an at-large bid after falling to defending National Champion DePauw in the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference finals.

     This will be the second time this season Ogelthorpe and Piedmont will play as the Stormy Petrels posted the 86-67 win over Piedmont in late November.

     Tickets are $6 for adults and $3 for students, children and senior citizens and will be available 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday or beginning two hours prior the gametime. The winners will meet at 7 p.m. Saturday.

03/01/08

Back-to-Back

Senior Jennifer Teski (Cincinnati, OH/Glen Este) picked the perfect opportunity to score her only basket of the game.

     With the shot clock winding down, and with a little over a minute to play, her rebound and backet off an airball gave Thomas More a five-point lead. From there the Saints sealed their second straight Presidents' Athletic Conference championship at the free throw line as they defeated Westminster, 65-58, Saturday at the Connor Convocation Center.

     "We needed a spark," said head coach Brian Neal. "Jennifer Teski has been a spark for us for the last three seasons. It was a huge play as we were struggling to score."

     For Teski, it was about being at the right place at the right time.

     "I just worked into position (for the rebound)," said Teski. "I just shot it and it went in."

    With the victory, Thomas More claims the PAC automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The times, dates and matchups will be released by the NCAA Monday morning. It was the type of the game Thomas More needed heading into the NCAA Tournament. For the past two months, the scheduled was littered with a bunch of big wins.

     "That's been the biggest question we've faced," said Neal. "How would we respond when the going got tough?

     "Westminster gave us everything we wanted," Neal continued. "We executed in the last five minutes. I thought we regrouped and responded."

     In the latest NCAA Regional rankings, Thomas More was the top seed in the Great Lakes Region, and after winning the conference tournament, the Saints are expected to remain atop the region.

     "We feel like we've done everything in our power to be a top seed," said Neal.

     Following a timeout with 53 seconds remaining, Westminster had a chance to cut the deficit to two points but missed a lay-up. Freshman Nicole Dickman (Park Hills/Notre Dame Academy) pulled down her tenth rebound and calmly sank both free throws to both free throws to push the lead back to six points. Dickman recorded her third double-double of the season with a career-high 20 points and 10 rebounds.

     Thomas More came out of the gates with two three-pointers from Dickman to open up a quick 6-0 lead. But two turnovers and three missed shots later, the Titans claimed the lead. The first half saw two more lead changes and two ties, but the Saints closed the stanza on a 13-6 run to take the seven-point lead into the break.

     Coming off of the break, the Saints grew to as much as 12 before Westminster crawled back into the game. The Titans got to within five on three occasions, and on three occasions, junior Jayme Thiem (Cold Spring/Newport Central Catholic) stemmed the tide with a basket. Thiem, the 2008 PAC Player of the Year, finished the game with 17 points, four steals, three rebounds and three blocks.

02/29/08

Saints Cruise to Finals

It didn't take long for No. 3 Thomas More to impose its will on the visiting Grove City Wolverines in the 2008 Presidents' Athletic Conference semifinals Friday at the Connor Convocation Center.

     The top-seeded Saints scored 22 of the first 24 points en route to the 75-27 victory over the tournament's six seed. The win sets up a rematch of last year's finals in which Thomas More defeated Westminster, 59-50. The Titans advanced to Saturday's final with a 82-75 win over Washington & Jefferson.

     Thomas More (27-0) limited the visitors to a mere 17 percent shooting, while forcing 14 turnovers - that we converted into 26 points. Meanwhile, Thomas More shot 55 percent in the first half as they claimed a 40-12 lead at the break.

     A 15-0 run in the second half pushed the Thomas More lead to 47 points, and it eventually grew to 50.

     Senior Tandrea Sellers (Florence/Boone County) was the lone TMC player to reach double figures with 10 points. Freshman Nicole Dickman (Park Hills/Notre Dame Academy) added nine points and a team-high six rebounds. Junior Jayme Thiem (Cold Spring/Newport Central Catholic) and freshman Dana Bors (Lebanon, OH/Lebanon) also pulled down six boards as Thomas More claimed the rebounding battle, 56-33.

     Thiem - who was named PAC Player of the Year prior to the game - dished out a team-high five assists. Thiem was joined on the conference's first team by Sellers, while Dickman earned second team laurels. The starting backcourt of Alex Gee (Cincinnati, OH/Glen Este) and Gabby Johnson (McCordsville, IN/Mount Vernon) were named honorable mention.

     Head coach Brian Neal picked up his second Coach of the Year honor in three seasons.

02/26/08

Thomas More advances

No. 3 Thomas More forced 23 turnovers and limited Waynesburg to 29 percent shooting as the Saints advanced to the Presidents' Athletic Conference semifinals with a 61-33 victory Tuesday at the Connor Convocation Center.

     The Saints scored the first six points and led for the entire game in posting their 26th straight victory. Thomas More (26-0) will host the semifinals of the PAC Tournament 6 p.m. Friday. The Saints will take on six-seeded Grove City. The Wolverines upset third-seeded Bethany Tuesday, 71-68. TMC won the meeting in the Connor Convocation Center three weeks ago, 82-40.

     In typical TMC fashion, the defense sparked its offense as the Saints recorded 16 fast break points and scored 32 points in the paint.

     A feisty Yellow Jacket team hung close until Thomas More closed the first half and opened the second half on a 26-3 run to open up a 30-point bulge with 13:45 left in the game.

     Junior Jayme Thiem (Cold Spring/Newport Central Catholic) led the Saints with 15 points, four rebounds and four steals, while junior Alex Gee (Cincinnati, OH/Glen Este) added 11 points and senior Tandrea Sellers (Florence/Boone County) chipped in with 10.

02/23/08

25-0

No. 3 Thomas More completed its unbeaten season with an impressive 88-39 victory over Saint Vincent Saturday at the Connor Convocation Center.

     The Saints limited the visitors to just 21 percent shooting and held a 52-24 edge on the glass in remaining undefeated. Thomas More pulled away as it held the Bearcats to just one basket over the last 10 minutes of the first half. During that span, the TMC lead ballooned from four to 30 at the break.

     The ability of point guards, senior Jenna Kelsch (Foster/Pendleton County) and junior Gabby Johnson (McCordsville, IN/Mount Vernon), to break the SVC full court press enabled Thomas More to score 20 fast break point in the first half in opening up the lead at the break. In addition, the TMC reserves outscored its counterparts 27-2 in the first half, and 48-5 for the entire game.

     Thomas More saw its bulge increase to as much as 52 in the second half.

     Senior Tandrea Sellers (Florence/Boone County) and sophomore Sarah Yeiser (Paris/Paris) each scored 12 points to lead Thomas More, while juniors Johnson and Jayme Thiem (Cold Spring/Newport Central Catholic) added 10 points apiece.

     Thomas More will open the Presidents' Athletic Conference tournament 6 p.m. Tuesday when it hosts Waynesburg .

02/20/08

Gee, Defense lift Saints

No. 3 Thomas More turned to two reliables - junior Alex Gee (Cincinnati, OH/Glen Este) and stingy defense - to post the 65-34 Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) victory over Chatham Wednesday at the Connor Convocation Center. In the newly released NCAA Regional rankings, Thomas More remained atop the Great Lakes Region.

     Gee hit three three-pointers as Thomas More opened the second half on a 24-0 run over the a span of nine minutes, and the TMC defense held the Cougars to just two field goals in final 20 minutes. Chatham shot just eight percent in the stanza and scored just eight points as Thomas More turned a two-point halftime lead into a 31-point victory.

     Early on the Cougars were hitting on all cylinders as they took a nine-point lead in the first half - the largest deficit since trailing Washington & Jefferson by nine on January 12. However, the Saints held its opponent scoreless for seven minutes as they claimed a two-point advantage.

     Gee led the Saints with 15 points, while junior Jayme Thiem (Cold Spring/Newport Central Catholic) added 12 points, five rebounds and four steals. Junior Gabby Johnson (McCordsville, IN/Mount Vernon) added six assists and five rebounds in the victory. Senior Tandrea Sellers (Florence/Boone County) pulled down a team-high eight rebounds to go along with nine points.

     Thomas More (24-0 overall, 14-0 PAC) will go for an undefeated regular season 1 p.m. Saturday when they host Saint Vincent.

02/16/08

Thiem drops 28 in win

BEAVER FALLS, PA - Thomas More scored 11 of the first 13 points and never trailed in handing PAC-member Geneva its first home loss of the season with a 64-57 victory Saturday. The game doesn't count toward PAC standing as the Golden Tornadoes are provisional NCAA Division III members.

     Junior Jayme Thiem (Cold Spring/Newport Central Catholic) scored a career-high 28 points with nine rebounds to help the fifth-ranked Saints to the road victory. She was 10-of-19 from the field and 7-of-10 from line.

     Thomas More limited its opponent to just 22 percent shooting from the field, but the Golden Tornadoes went to the line 27 times - converting 22 - to help stay close.

     Following the opening spurt, GC pulled to within two - but Thiem struck for the first time. The junior guard hit back-to-back jumpers and a three-pointer as the Saints opened up a nine-point lead. On four occassions in the second half, the Golden Tornadoes got to within single figures. On four occassions, Thiem scored to give the Saints a double-digit advantage.

     Senior Tandrea Sellers (Florence/Boone County) added nine points, while freshman Nicole Dickman (Park Hills/Notre Dame Academy) pulled down 12 rebounds. It was Dickman's fourth double-figure rebounding performance on the season.

    Thomas More, ranked first in the Great Lakes Region, will close the season with two home games. The Saints will host Chatham 5:30 p.m. Wednesday before closing the regular season with a game with Saint Vincent at 1 p.m. Saturday.

02/13/08

Thomas More locks up No. 1 seed

WASHINGTON, PA - No. 5 Thomas More waltzed into a place they haven't won before and secured the top seed for the upcoming Presidents' Athletic Conference tournament with a 59-47 victory over Washington & Jefferson Wedneday in the Henry Memorial Center. The win gave the Saints their first outright PAC regular season championship.

     "Our team has a lot of respect for W&J's program and we knew coming in that it would be a tough battle," said head coach Brian Neal. "It was going to be a 40-minute game, and if you are not ready to play 40 minutes at W&J - you will lose."

     The Saints, one of three remaining unbeaten teams, are ranked first in the latest Great Lakes Regional poll - ahead of top-ranked Hope. With the victory, Thomas More improves to 22-0 overall, 13-0 PAC. They will travel to Beaver Falls, PA Saturday for a non-conference game with PAC member Geneva. The Golden Tornadoes are a NCAA Division III provisional member, thus don't count toward PAC standings.

     Junior Jayme Thiem (Cold Spring/Newport Central Catholic) and senior Tandrea Sellers (Florence/Boone County) led the way as the duo combined for 31 points, nine rebounds and five assists in the victory.

     "They are both playing with tremendous confidence," said Neal. "They say the cream always rises to the top. Tangie and Jayme have been at their best in big situations. Jayme don't disappear. Tangie don't disappear. They embrace the moment."

     Unlike the first game when W&J scored the first nine points, Thomas More led from the outset - and never trailed - scoring seven of the first nine points. A three-pointer by Sellers, who is making over 50 percent from behind the arc, gave the Saints a 10-point lead with eight minutes left. However, the Presidents' didn't fold as they trimmed their deficit to three points. A lay-up from freshman Nicole Dickman (Park Hills/Notre Dame Academy) and three-pointer by Thiem stemmed the momentum and helped Thomas More take a nine-point lead into the half.

     Thomas More put the game away as they opened the second half on a 19-4 run, opening up a 22-point lead.

     The defense of Dickman and the rest of the Thomas More post players helped limit the Presidents' leading scorer to just one point. In addition, Dickman finished with 10 points and five rebounds.

     Junior Gabby Johnson (McCordsville, IN/Mount Vernon) dished out a team-high five assists.

     The Saints shot 46 percent from the field in posting the victory.

02/09/08

Saints secure Share of Regular Season Crown

Thomas More connected on its first eight shots of the game, including three consecutive three-pointers to start the game, en route to the 82-40 victory over Grove City Saturday in Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) action. The Saints took part in the Women's Basketball Association's "Think Pink" week during the game.
      The win secured at least a share of the PAC regular season championship for the third straight season. A victory Wednesday when the Saints travel to Washington & Jefferson would give Thomas More (21-0 overall, 12-0 PAC) its first outright regular season title.

     After building an 18-point lead midway through the opening half, Thomas More had its lead trimmed to 10 points. But, the Saints closed the half on a 22-2 run that opened up the contest.
      It was blistering shooting the lifted Thomas More to the huge 29-point halftime lead. The Saints converted on a whopping 64.3 percent in the first half.

      The lead grew to as much as 38 when the starters were lifted six minutes into the half, and ballooned to as high as 45.

      Every player played at least nine minutes and all that attempted shots, scored for Thomas More.
      Junior Alex Gee (Cincinnati, OH/Glen Este) led Thomas More with 13 points, while junior Jayme Thiem (Cold Spring/Newport Central Catholic) recorded 11 points, five steals, five rebounds, four assists and two blocks.
      Sophomore Carrie Fay (Union/Ryle) added a career-high 10 points in a career-long 21 minutes.

02/07/08

Gee earns Academic, SAAC Honor

Thomas More junior Alex Gee (Cincinnati, OH/Glen Este) has been named to the ESPN The Magazine's Academic All-District team. In addition, she was named the Presidents' Athletic Conference's SAAC Female Scholar-Athlete for the month of January.

     Gee, who has started 18 games, was named to the Magazine's second team. She is a psychology major, who is averaging 7.1 points per game for the unbeaten Saints. The 5-5 guard leads Thomas More with 30 made three-pointers. Gee recently moved into second place all-time with 145 three-pointers made, and currently stands at 150.

     She has earned Dean's Lists honors in all five semesters, and been named to the Athletic Director's Honor Roll during all five semesters as well.

    02/06/08

Saints Set School record

Thomas More allowed just 23 points, the fewest in school history, in securing its third consecutive 20-win season with the 59-23 Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) victory over Waynesburg Wednesday.

     The Saints, who came into the game fifth in scoring defense, limited Waynesburg to just 15 percent shooting in the first half, and 23 percent for the game.

      Thomas More scored the game's first nine points, and 27 of the first 29 en route to the victory.

     The starting frontcourt of senior Tandrea Sellers (Florence/Boone County), junior Jayme Thiem (Cold Spring/Newport Central Catholic) and freshman Nicole Dickman (Park Hills/Notre Dame Academy) combined for 28 points on 11-of-18 shooting with 14 rebounds. Thiem's effort - 13 points, five rebounds, five steals, and four assists - spearheaded the Saints.

     Thomas More (20-0 overall, 11-0 PAC) will host Grove City 1 p.m. Wednesday at the Connor Convocation Center. The game will be part of Thomas More's support of the Women's Basketball Coaches Association's "Think Pink" Initiative.

02/02/08

Johnson sparks Rally

NEW WILMINGTON, PA - Junior Gabby Johnson (McCordsville, IN/Mount Vernon) hit back-to-back three pointers to spark an 18-6 run in the second half that lifted No. 5 Thomas More to the 69-56 victory over Westminster Saturday at the Buzz Ridl Gymnasium in Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) action.

     The Saints, one of three remaining unbeaten teams in the country, moved to 19-0 overall and 10-0 in the PAC.

     Junior Alex Gee (Cincinnati, OH/Glen Este) dropped in a three-pointer and junior Jayme Thiem (Cold Spring/Newport Central Catholic) added a three-point play during the game-turning spurt. Thomas More trailed for just 31 seconds in the second half.

     Thomas More threatened to blow the host away in the first half as they pushed its lead to double figures. The TMC reserves - seniors Jenna Kelsch (Foster/Pendleton County), Amanda Link (Cincinnati, OH/Glen Este) and Jennifer Teski (Cincinnati, OH/Glen Este), along with freshman Caitlyn Mauch (Dayton, OH/Archbishop Alter) - entered the game, and Thomas More promply scored 13 of the next 17 points. However, Westminster didn't go away - scoring seven straight to pull to within five at the break.

     Senior Tandrea Sellers (Florence/Boone County) led four players in double figures with 15 points, while Johnson added 13 points. It was also just the second game of the season Johnson didn't record at least two assists. Freshman Nicole Dickman (Park Hills/Notre Dame Academy) recorded 12 points and a team-high eight rebounds as Thiem chipped in with 11.

     Thomas More returns home 5:30 p.m. Wednesday for a PAC game with Waynesburg.

1/30/08

Sellers, Thiem Combine for 44

GREENVILLE, PA - No. 5 Thomas More opened the second half on a 17-2 run that opened up the game en route to the 87-58 victory over Thiel Wednesday at Beeghly Gynmasium in Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) action.

     Senior Tandrea Sellers (Florence/Boone County) and junior Jayme Thiem (Cold Spring/Newport Central Catholic) were a formidable inside-outside tandem in combining for 44 points on 15-of-19 shooting from the field and 12-of-13 from the line. Freshman Nicole Dickman (Park Hills/Notre Dame Academy) was a rebound shy of her third consecutive double-double with 10 points and a team-high nine rebounds.

     Thomas More, who came into the game ranked fourth nationally in scoring defense, turned it up a notch to start the second half - sparking its run. The Saints turned five turnovers into 11 of their 17 points. On the game, TMC converted 21 Thiel miscues into 33 points.

     A 9-0 run at the end of the first half, helped the Saints build a 10-point halftime cushion and take some momentum into the locker room.

     Junior Gabby Johnson (McCordsville, IN/Mount Vernon), the PAC's assists leader, continues her acts of generosity by distributing a team-high seven assists. She has recorded at least two assists in 17 of the team's 18 games, and is averaging 5.8 assists in the last five games. She moved into a 10th-place tie with 161 career assists.

     Thomas More (18-0, 9-0 PAC) will travel to New Wilmington, PA 2 p.m. Saturday for a PAC game with Westminster.

TMC to Participate in "Think Pink" Week

The Thomas More women's basketball program will be participating the Women's Basketball Coaches Association's (WBCA) Think Pink Week on Saturday, February 9 when the Saints host Presidents' Athletic Conference-rival Grove City.

    The WBCA's "Think Pink" initiative is a global, unified effort for the WBCA nation of coaches to assist in raising breast cancer awareness on the court, across campuses, in communities and beyond. Thomas More is one of more than 700 schools that have decided the participate in the coaches organization's efforts.

    "The WBCA has put an emphasis on the "Think Pink" initiative," said fourth-year head coach Brian Neal. "We are happy to join the other schools across the country to raise awareness for this project."

    Think Pink shirts will be on sale for $10 starting Monday, February 4 and will be available at the game. Proceeds from the shirt sale will go to the Susan G. Koman Foundation. In addition, the TMC basketball team will be wearing pink shoestrings, and the athletic department will recognize all cancer survivors in attendance.

1/26/08

Five Reach Double Figures

Freshman Nicole Dickman (Park Hills/Notre Dame Academy) led five Thomas More players in double figures as the Saints defeated Bethany Saturday, 81-55, in Presidents' Athletic Confference action at the Connor Convocation Center.

     Dickman recorded her second straight double-double, the first two of her career, with 19 points and 10 rebounds to help the third-ranked Saints maintain their two-game lead in the conference.

     After getting off to a slow start, Thomas More went on a 19-3 run to open up its first double-digit lead of the game with 4:43 left in the half. The lead ballooned to 17 at the break.

     The Saints built a 24-point lead in the opening stages of the second half. Then, Bethany had a 11-2 spurt to pull them to within 15 - the closest they would get.

     Senior Amanda Link (Cincinnati, OH/Glen Este) added 15 points, while freshman Caitlyn Mauch (Dayton, OH/Archbishop Alter) netted a career-high 12 points. It was the second consecutive game Mauch recorded a career scoring performance. Junior Jayme Thiem (Cold Spring/Newport Central Catholic) turned in an all-around performance with 12 points, six assists, five rebounds and four steals. Senior Tandrea Sellers (Florence/Boone County) rounded out the double-figure scorers with 10 points.

     Thomas More (17-0 overall, 8-0 PAC) travels to Greenville 5:30 p.m. Wednesday for a Presidents' Athletic Conference match with Thiel.

1/23/08

Double-Double for Dickman

LATROBE, PA - Freshman Nicole Dickman (Park Hills/Notre Dame Academy) recorded her first career double-double as Thomas More remained unbeaten at 16-0 with a 62-50 victory over Saint Vincent Wednesday.

     Dickman pulled down a career-high 14 rebounds to go along with 11 points as Thomas More finished the first round of Presidents' Athletic Conference action.

     Thomas More connected of four long-range shots during its 17-2 run that helped give the Saints much needed breathing room with a 14-point lead. The homestanding Bearcats were able to trim their deficit by two to 12 at the break.

     Saint Vincent went to its bench in an attempt to crawl back into the game. For a period, it worked as SVC got as close as seven points. However, a basket by Dickman and a jumper by senior Tandrea Sellers (Florence/Boone County) helped restore order and give TMC its double-digit advantage back.  The Bearcats pulled to within single digits on a couple of occassion, only to see Thomas More quickly get back on top.

     Freshman Caitlyn Mauch (Kettering, OH/Archbishop Alter) netted a career-high 10 points on 5-of-7 shooting, while junior Gabby Johnson (McCordsville, IN/Mount Vernon) distributed nine assists.

     The Saints will kick of the second swing through PAC play when they host Bethany 1 p.m. Saturday. Thomas More handed the Bison its first conference loss of the season with a 71-60 win in Bethany, WV back in December. Thomas More's win combined with Washington & Jefferson's victory over Bethany give the Saints a two-game lead in the PAC.

1/19/08

Link, Thiem perfect as Saints stay Perfect

PITTSBURGH, PA - Senior Amanda Link (Cincinnati, OH/Glen Este) and junior Jayme Thiem (Cold Spring/Newport Central Catholic) combined for 26 points on 9-of-9 shooting as No. 3 Thomas More moved to 15-0 with a 70-34 win over Chatham Saturday in Presidents' Athletic Conference action.

     Thiem dropped 16 points on 4-of-4 shooting, including 3-of-3 from behind the arc and 5-of-5 from the line. Link added 10 points on 5-of-5 from the field.

     Thomas More's defense, ranked 13th in the country, limited the Cougars to 26 percent shooting from the field. The Cougars are the third opponent, and the second straight, to be held to a season-low 34 points. The Saints are now allowing a PAC-low 48.1 points per contest.

     Seven different players scored as Thomas More took over the game with a 21-0 run that spanned more than six minutes midway through the first half. The Cougars were 0-for-7 from the field with two turnovers as the Saints seized control.

     Another long run, this one 15-0 in the second half, pushed Thomas More's lead to 41 with eight minutes left in the game.

     Senior Tandrea Sellers (Florence/Boone County) added nine points and a team-high nine rebounds as 13 of the team's 14 players tallied points.

     Thomas More (15-0, 7-0 PAC) will travel to Latrobe, PA 5:30 p.m. Wednesday to face Saint Vincent.

1/16/08

Thomas More slugs way to win

Third-ranked Thomas More forced 17 turnovers and limited Geneva to just 22 percent shooting in beating the Golden Tornadoes, 56-34, Wednesday in the Connor Convocation Center. The 34 points allowed tied for a season-low as the Saints held Waynesburg to just 34 points on January 5.

     Thomas More's defense - spearheaded by seniors Tangie Sellers (Florence/Boone County) and Amanda Link (Cincinnati, OH/Glen Este) - held the conference's third-leading scorer to just eight points. Geneva junior Renee Rawding came into the game averaging 19.4 points per game.

     Just days after hitting on 16 three-pointers, Thomas More shot a paltry 3-of-16 from behind the arc.

     The rugged defense allowed the Saints to gradually pull away to post the victory as TMC scored a season-low 56 points. Thomas More also scored 56 points in a three-point win over Wittenberg earlier this season.

     Junior Alex Gee (Cincinnati, OH/Glen Este) led the way with 11 points, while freshman Nicole Dickman (Park Hills/Notre Dame Academy) added 10 points and nine rebounds. Junior Gabby Johnson (McCordsville, IN/Mount Vernon), the league's leader in assist-to-turnover ratio, dished out six assists to just one turnover.

     Thomas More (14-0 overall, 6-0 PAC) will travel to Pittsburgh, PA for a PAC battle with Chatham 2 p.m. Saturday.    

1/12/08

saints remain Unbeaten

Sophomore Sarah Yeiser (Paris/Paris) came off the bench to spark No. 5 Thomas More as the guard poured in a career-high 19 points in the Saints' 86-53 victory over Washington & Jefferson Saturday in the Connor Convocation Center. It was Thomas More's first victory over the Presidents' in five games.

     Yeiser entered the game with the Saints trailing by five points, and after she hit back-to-back three-pointers, the Thomas More lead was four points. Thomas More never relinquished its advantage as the Saints overcame a 0-for-10 shooting start. Yeiser added another three-pointer and lay-up during the Saints' game-changing run.

     Back-to-back three-pointers from freshman Nicole Dickman (Park Hills/Notre Dame Academy) and senior Tandrea Sellers (Florence/Boone County) jump started a game-deciding 19-2 run that started the second half. Thomas More made four three-pointers during the stretch, and the Saints converted 16-of-34 from behind the arc on the game. Nine different Saints made three-pointers, including Yeiser's 5-of-6 performance.

     The Saints' lead ballooned to as much as 34 points in the win.

     Junior Jayme Thiem (Cold Spring/Newport Central Catholic) added 19 points, five assists, three steals and two rebounds, while junior Gabby Johnson (McCordsville, IN/Mount Vernon) added four assists with just one turnover. Dickman pulled down a career-high 12 rebounds as the Saints won the battle of the boards, 42-36.

     Thomas More (12-0 overall, 5-0 PAC), off to its best start in school history, will host PAC-foe Geneva 5:30 p.m. Wednesday. The Golden Tornadoes are a provisional NCAA Division III member thus the result will not count toward PAC standings or the Saints' regional record.

1/9/08

Sellers, Thiem guide Saints

GROVE CITY, PA - Senior Tandrea Sellers (Florence/Boone County) and junior Jayme Thiem (Cold Spring/Newport Central Catholic) combined for 28 points as No. 5 Thomas More notched a 61-46 road Presidents' Athletic Conference victory over Grove City Wednesday at the Grove City College Arena.

     Thiem scored 15 points with a team-high four assists, while Sellers was a perfect 5-of-5 for 13 points.

     After racing to a quick eight-point lead, the Saints witnessed Grove City half its deficit before back-to-back three pointers from Sellers and junior Alex Gee (Cincinnati, OH/Glen Este) gave Thomas More its first double-digit lead of the game. However, as quickly as the lead was built, it tumbled, with Grove City scoring eight straight to pull to within two.

      Once again it was Gee that helped stem the tide with a three-pointer and Thomas More scored the final seven points of the first half to take a nine-point lead into the break.

     The lead hovered in the vicinity of nine points for the majority of the second half . The Wolverines crawled to within seven early in the stanza and Thomas More increased the lead to as much as 12 before the Saints sealed the win with one last run.

     Three different players scored during a late 8-0 rin that gave Thomas More its biggest lead of the game at 17 points. Grove City was able to keep the game close with its ability to hit the glass. The Wolverines dominated the caroms, winning the rebound margin 40-26. The dominance included holding Thomas More to just four offensive rebounds.

     Senior Amanda Link (Cincinnati, OH/Glen Este) added eight points and a team-high seven rebounds in the victory.

     Thomas More (12-0 overall, 5-0 PAC) will host Washington & Jefferson 1 p.m. Saturday in a battle of the last two PAC champions. The Presidents suffered their first PAC loss to Thiel Wednesday, 90-87.

1/5/08

Thomas More rolls

WAYNESBURG, PA - Sophomore Sarah Yeiser (Paris/Paris) scored a career-high 13 points as three players reached double figures in No. 5 Thomas More's convincing 90-34 Presidents' Athletic Conference victory over Waynesburg Saturday at the Marisa Fieldhouse.

     The 56-point win is the second largest margin of victory in school history, behind Thomas More's 110-48 victory over Lake Erie in the 1994-95 season. The 90 points also marked the most points scored in the Brian Neal era.

     Senior Tandrea Sellers (Florence/Boone County) scored just four seconds into the game, signaling what was to come as Thomas More raced out to a 23-4 lead midway through the first half. The Saints continued to pour in the points, and when the first half ended, Thomas More led by 35.

     An 18-0 run in the first five minutes of the second half sent the Thomas More starters to the bench with a 51-point lead.

     Thomas More forced 20 Yellow Jacket turnovers, while holding Waynesburg to 28 percent shooting. The Saints also held a +15 edge on the glass as freshman Dana Bors (Lebanon, OH/Lebanon) pulled down a career-high nine boards to lead TMC.

     Junior Jayme Thiem (Cold Spring/Newport Central Catholic) recorded 12 points, six rebounds, five steals and three blocks, while junior Alex Gee (Cincinnati, OH/Glen Este) added 12 points. Junior Gabby Johnson (McCordsville, IN/Mount Vernon), who leads the PAC in assist-to-turnover ratio, dished out four assists with zero turnovers.

     Thomas More (11-0 overall, 4-0 PAC) will travel to face Grove City 5:30 p.m. Wednesday in PAC action. The Wolverines are currently 3-8 overall, 0-3 PAC after falling 68-60 to Chatham.

12/31/07

Thirteen score in victory

SHEBOYGAN, WI - Thirteen players tallied points as No. 7 Thomas More improved to 10-0 on the season with an impressive 70-42 victory over Lakeland Monday.

     The Saints took control of the contest early, scoring 16 of the game's first 20 points. During that stretch, the defensive-minded TMC forced seven turnovers and held the Muskies to 2-of-7 from the field. The stout Thomas More defense pestered the homestanding Muskie team all day to the tune of just 25 percent shooting, including 13 percent from behind the arc.

      Freshman Nicole Dickman (Park Hills/Notre Dame) scored nine of the Saints' first 16 points, and finished with a team-high 13 points. Senior Amanda Link (Cincinnati, OH/Glen Este) added 12 points for Thomas More. Thomas More's balance helped offset an off-night by three of the Saints top four scorers as seniors Jayme Thiem (Cold Spring/Newport Central Catholic) and Tandrea Selllers (Florence/Boone County), along with junior Alex Gee (Cincinnati, OH/Glen Este) combined for 14 points. The trio averages more than 34 points per game on the season.

      Thanks in part to 10 rebounds from Thiem, the Saints were +14 on the glass at 47-34.

     Thomas More will return to action Saturday when they resume Presidents' Athletic Conference action with a road game at Waynesburg.

12/19/07

Saints Survive Scare

SPRINGFIELD, OH - The contest had all the makings of a trap game, and the No. 7 Thomas More Saints came within two minutes of succumbing to the various potential distasters that were laid out. However, the ranked Saints preserved its unbeaten mark and historic start as freshman Nicole Dickman (Park Hills/Notre Dame Academy) helped Thomas More to the 56-53 win over Wittenberg in the newly renamed Pam Smith Arena.

     The freshman forward knotted the game with 49 seconds, then connected on two clutch free throws with 23 seconds remaining to help secure the victory.

     The Saints were facing a team that was playing its first home game since the death of its head coach, and had already been beaten soundly by two teams Thomas More has defeated. A third team, Thomas More routed by 47, while the Tigers managed a 14-point victory.

     "There were a lot of pitfalls that I was worried about," said head coach Brian Neal. "For 37 1/2 minutes, we didn't handle them very well. But, the last two and a half minutes we played with focus and executed down the stretch."

     The game marked the first time the Saints have trailed in the last five minutes of any game, and the first time they have been pressured down the stretch in close to a month.

     "(Wittenberg) was focused and prepared for what we wanted to do," said Neal. "We were just used to cruising and they made us grind out a victory. This is what college basketball is about. It's about competition, not 20-point victories. We had to hang on and win in a tough situation."

      After getting three defensive stops and coming away with two empty possessions, junior Jayme Thiem (Cold Spring/Newport Central Catholic) tied the game with a three-pointer to calm the Saints. Thiem finished the game with career-highs in points (23) and rebounds (11), and has reached double figures in all nine games for Thomas More.

     "Once we tied it up, I knew we were in good shape," said Neal. "It helped loosen some mental baggage."

     The second half featured six lead changes and four ties as the two regional rivals battle down the stretch. Thomas More (9-0 overall) has now won four of the last five meetings between the two teams.

     Senior Tandrea Sellers (Florence/Boone County) added 14 points and four rebounds to extend her double-digit scoring streak to five, while Dickman added a career-high nine rebounds. Junior Gabby Johnson (McCordsville, IN/Mount Vernon) dished out a team-high six assists.

     The Saints will be off for a week for winter break, and will return to action on December 31 at Lakeland.   

12/15/07

TMC sprints past Lions

Thomas More made sure rival-Mount St. Joseph didn't harbor any thoughts of an upset as No. 9 TMC sprinted past the Lions, 90-43, Saturday at the Connor Convocation Center.

     Thomas More scored 15 of the game's first 17 points in remaining unbeaten, and continuing the best start in school history at 8-0. The Saints will travel to Wittenberg Wednesday for another non-conference game. The game-opening run extended to 22-6 before the Mount called a timeout. The break didn't stem the tide, and two Lion timeouts later, Thomas More led by 25.

     After MSJ scored the final seven points of the half to pull to within 20, Thomas More proceeded the score the first 18 points of the second half to open up a 36-point bulge.

     Junior Alex Gee (Cincinnati, OH/Glen Este), after missing the last game with an injury, led Thomas More with 18 points off the bench. Three other players tallied double figures as junior Jayme Thiem (Cold Spring/Newport Central Catholic) added 13, and freshman Nicole Dickman (Park Hills/Notre Dame Academy) along with senior Tandrea Sellers (Florence/Boone County) chipped in with 11.

     Junior Gabby Johnson (McCordsville, IN/Mount Vernon) and sophomore Alicia Williams (Florence/Boone County) recorded team-high's with four assists.

Saints claim battle of Unbeatens

Thomas More led for nearly the entire game as the 11th-ranked Saints knocked Presidents' Athletic Conference foe-Westminster from the ranks of the unbeaten with a 79-59 win Saturday in the Connor Convocation Center.

     Westminster is the third NCAA Tournament team from last season the Saints have handed its only loss as they continue their record setting start.

     Senior Tandrea Sellers (Florence/Boone County) led four players in double figures with 20 points on 6-of-8 shooting, grabbing a team-high five rebounds.

     Thomas More shot 50 percent in the first half as they opened up a 13 point lead at the break. While the Saints were connecting on half their shots, the defense forced 10 first-half miscues and limited the Titans to 36 percent from the field.

     The second half was much of the same as Thomas More, the defending PAC champions, stretched its lead to as much as 23 in the second half. The Titans crawled to within 13 points late, but Thomas More pulled away.

      Junior Jayme Thiem (Cold Spring/Newport Central Catholic) scored 13 points with a team-high four steals and three assists. Freshman Nicole Dickman (Park Hills/Notre Dame Academy) added 12 points, while senior Amanda Link (Cincinnati, OH/Glen Este) chipped in with 10. Junior Gabby Johnson (McCordsville, IN/Mount Vernon) dished out a team-high five assists.

      Thomas More (7-0 overall, 3-0 PAC) will take the week off for final exams before returning to the hardwood Saturday with a home date with rival-Mount St. Joseph.

12/5/07

Thomas More routs Tomcats

Scoring nine of the first 11 points helped No. 11 Thomas More secure its sixth win of the young season as the Saints ran past Thiel Wednesday at the Connor Convocation Center, 84-46.

     Thomas More sprinted past its visitors to the tune of 32 fast-break points, 25 points off turnovers and 56 points in the paint in posting the record-setting victory. The win enabled the Saints to record their best-ever start at 6-0.

     In addition, the Thomas More reserves romped their counterparts, 43-8.

     While the offensive explosion was nice, it was the defensive effort on one of the conference's leading scorer that was more gratifying. Spearheaded by seniors Tandrea Sellers (Florence/Boone County) and Jennifer Teski (Cincinnati, OH/Glen Este), the Thomas More defense limited Thiel's Amber Bodrick to a mere 10 points - 15 points below her average. They also held the Tomcats to just 26 percent shooting from the field and forced 20 turnovers.

     In total, 11 players scored for Thomas More with four reaching double figures. Junior Jayme Thiem (Cold Spring/Newport Central Catholic) led the Saints with 15 points, while Teski poured in a career-high 14 points. Freshman Nicole Dickman (Park Hills/Notre Dame Academy) and Sellers each chipped in with 11 points. Sophomore Claire Noltemeyer (Louisville/Assumption) recorded a career-high nine points in the victory.

     Junior Gabby Johnson (McCordsville, IN/Mount Vernon) added a team-high five assists as the Saints dished out 22 assists on 36 baskets.

     Thomas More (6-0 overall, 2-0 PAC) will host Westminster 1:30 p.m. Saturday in a battle of battle of unbeatens and a rematch of last season's PAC tournament championship game.

12/1/07

Three in double figures

BETHANY, WV - Three players reached double figures as the 14th-ranked Thomas More Saints opened Presidents' Athletic Conference action with a 71-60 win over Bethany Saturday.

     Thomas More dominated in the paint, outscoring its opponent 38-18, en route to the victory. The Saints scored 14 of its first 19 points in the paint as they raced out to a 19-4 lead. The advantage would get extended out to 19 points (33-14) before the Bison had a mini run to crawl to within 12. However, back-to-back baskets by freshman Nicole Dickman (Park Hills/Notre Dame Academy) helped the Saints take a 16-point lead into the break.

     The second half was much of the same for Thomas More as they built a 23-point lead with 7:18 left in the contest.

     But, Bethany wasn't ready to go down without one last fight. The Bison went on a 10-0 run to pull to within 11, forcing a Thomas More timeout. BC couldn't get any closer as the Saints hit 7-of-8 from the free throw line, including four straight from sophomore Alicia Williams (Florence/Boone County) to seal the victory.

     Junior Jayme Thiem (Cold Spring/Newport Central Catholic) and Dickman each scored 12 points to lead Thomas More, while senior Tandrea Sellers (Florence/Boone County) added 11 markers in the victory. Senior Amanda Link (Cincinnati, OH/Glen Este) pulled down a team-high nine boards and recorded a team-high four blocks.

     Thomas More (5-0 overall, 1-0 PAC) will host Thiel 5:30 p.m. Wednesday in its PAC home opener.

11/28/07

Saints leap into polls

On the strength of wins over nationally-ranked opponents, Wilmington and DePauw, Thomas More entered into the national rankings.

     In the USA Today/ESPN Top 25, TMC entered the poll at No. 14, while they entered the Top 25 of the d3hoops.com poll at No. 17

     The Saints are one of five teams unranked in the preseason to enter both polls this week, and are the highest ranked of the five.

     DePauw, which was ranked No. 2 by the WBCA and No. 5 by d3hoops.com fell to No. 8 in both due to its loss to TMC.

     Thomas More (4-0) will kick off PAC action 1 p.m. Saturday at Bethany.

11/26/07

Thiem named POW

WEXFORD, PA - Junior Jayme Thiem (Cold Spring/Newport Central Catholic) was named Presidents' Athletic Conference Player of the Week Monday.

     Thiem, a transfer from Eastern Kentucky, averaged 12.0 points, 3.5 assists, 2.5 rebounds and 2.5 steals as Thomas More improved to 4-0. She earned her second all-tournament team honors of the season in helping lead TMC to the upset of No. 2 DePauw. Thiem scored 13 points in the win over the reigning NCAA Division III champion Tigers, including a steal and layup under two minutes to give the Saints a three-point lead.

     Thomas More will return to the hardwood Saturday in its Presidents' Athletic Conference opener at Bethany.

11/25/07

TMC beats Defending Champs

Behind a tournament record and career-high 22 points from senior Amanda Link (Cincinnati, OH/Glen Este), Thomas More beat its second ranked team in three games as the Saints defeated the defending NCAA Division III National Champion DePauw, 65-59, in the 2007 Julie Costello Memorial Classic presented by Barleycorn's. Thomas More improved to 11-1 in Costello Classic action.

     "Amanda Link is a big game player," said head coach Brian Neal. "When the stakes are high, her focus tightens up. I am not surprised Amanda played well when all the chips were in the pot."

     She scored a team-high 16 points in the win over No. 22Wilmington last week.     

     The Tigers entered the game ranked second by the WBCA and fifth by d3hoops.com.

     "After the loss in the NCAA tournament (last season), the coaches and players had to do some soul searching," said Neal. "We had to raise the bar of the program. To do that, you have to beat great teams. They don't come any better than DePauw and Wilmington."

     The Tigers and the Quakers have accounted for two of the last four NCAA Division III National Championships.

     While Link was the driving force in the first half scoring 14 of the teams 27 points, it was junior Jayme Thiem (Cold Spring/Newport Central Catholic) that delivered the victory down the stretch.

     With the Saints holding onto a one-point lead with less than two minutes remaining, Thiem's steal and lay-up pushed the lead to three. Then on the next possession, she found junior Alex Gee (Cincinnati, OH/Glen Este) in the corner for a three-pointer that doubled the Saints' advantage to six. Thiem hit four straight three-pointers down the stretch as the Saints went six-of-six to seal the victory.

     "Jayme Thiem is a playmaker on both ends of the court," said Neal. "She is a bit of a gambler, but when she guesses right, good things happen. She has a little of the old-west in her."

     Thiem, Link and freshman Nicole Dickman (Park Hills/Notre Dame Academy) were named to the All-Classic team. The Thomas More trio were joined by DePauw's Gretchen Haehl and Kalei Lowes, Ashley Horton of Case Western Reserve and Centre's Chelsea Goodman.

     Thomas More led for the majority of the first half, building a 10-point lead with 5:41 remaining. The Tigers showed their mettle in climbing back to take a one-pont lead with 45 seconds, but Link took a pass from Thiem and converted a lay-up as time expired to give TMC the one-point lead going into the locker room.

      The Tigers scored seven straight points at the beginning of the half to take the lead - an advantage they held until Link gave the Saints the lead for good with a three-point at the 8:32 mark of the second half.

     Gee and Dickman each scored 10 points in the Thomas More win, while Dickman, Link and senior Tandrea Sellers (Florence/Boone County) all hauled in a team-high six rebounds.

     Thomas More (4-0) will jump into Presidents' Athletic Conference action Saturday with a road contest at Bethany.

11/24/07

Sellers, Dickman lead Saints

The inside duo of senior Tangie Sellers (Florence/Boone County) and freshman Nicole Dickman (Park Hills/Notre Dame Academy) combined for 38 points in Thomas More's 61-52 victory over Centre in the 2007 Julie Costello Memorial Classic presented by Barleycorn's.

     Sellers tied a tournament record with nine field goals in shooting 9-of-12 from the field for a team-high 20 points. The 20 points was one point off the tournament record that was set in Saturday's first game. In addition, sophomore Gabby Johnson (McCordsville, IN/Mount Vernon) tied a tournament record with 10 assists.

     Dickman pulled down a team-high eight rebounds to go along with her 18 points on 7-of-9 shooting.

     After not being able to pull away from the Colonels in the first half, Thomas More opened the second frame with a 16-4 spurt that gave them some breathing room. Sellers and Dickman scored 12 of the team's 16 points during the pivotal stretch.

     However, the Colonels had one last gasp in them as they scored 13 of the next 17 points to crawl to within four with nine minutes remaining. A three-pointer by Dickman stemmed the tide and Thomas More stretched its lead out to nine.

     Junior Jayme Thiem (Cold Spring/Newport Central Catholic) added 11 points in the victory.

     Thomas More (3-0) will face its second ranked opponent in three games as they host No. 2 DePauw in the 2007 Julie Costello Memorial Classic presented by Barleycorn's.

11/17/07

TMC upends ranked Quakers

WILMINGTON, OH - The student finally broke through against the teacher as Thomas More claimed the Damon's/Wilmington Inn Tip-Off Tournament championship with a 72-61 win over No. 22 Wilmington Saturday at the Fred Raizk Arena.

     Thomas More head coach Brian Neal served as an assistant coach on the Wilmington staff for six years.

     The win marks the first win over Wilmington since the opener of the 2003-04 season. The Quakers had six of the last seven in the series.

     Four straight three-pointers including back-to-back triples from senior Amanda Link (Cincinnati, OH/Glen Este) turned a one-point deficit in a 10-point lead, and signaled what was to come for the Quakers. Thomas More connected on nine-of-25 from long range on the game.

     Link, en route to being name to the tournament team, came off the bench to lead Thomas More with 16 points, including 3-of-3 from behind the arc. Behind Link's production, the Saints reserves dominated their counterparts 23-5.

     Junior Jayme Thiem (Cold Spring/Newport Central Catholic) was named tournament MVP after scoring 31 points in two games, including 14 in the championship game. Junior Gabby Johnson (McCordsville, IN/Mt. Vernon) tallied a career-high 15 points for the Saints.

      Freshman Nicole Dickman (Park Hills/Notre Dame Academy) pulled down a team-high seven boards to go with her nine points.

     Thomas More (2-0) will host the Julie Costello Memorial Classic starting November 24. The Saints will play Centre Saturday before grappling defending National Champion DePauw Sunday.

11/16/07

Saints breeze through Opener

WILMINGTON, OH - Thomas More shot 50 percent from the field as they opened the season with a resounding 75-45 win over Ohio Wesleyan Friday at the Wilmington College Tip-Off Tournament.

     Junior Alex Gee (Cincinnati, OH/Glen Este) scored nine of the Saints’ 17 points during a 17-0 run that put the Battlin’ Bishops in an early 21-point hole. Thomas More built the lead to as much as 26 in the first half, and took a 23-point bulge into the locker room.

     Another double-digit spurt, this one in the second half, put Ohio Wesleyan away. The Battlin’ Bishop drew to within 16, but Thomas More scored the next 13 points – and the lead was 29.

     Three players scored in double figures, lead by junior Jayme Thiem (Cold Spring/Newport Central Catholic). The transfer had 17 points and a team-high eight rebounds, including going 10-for-10 from the free throw line.

      Gee recorded 16 points, while freshman Nicole Dickman (Park Hills/Notre Dame Academy) added 12 in her collegiate debut.

      Thomas More (1-0) will play Wilmington in the championship game of the Damon's/Wilmington Inn Tip-Off Tournament.

     

2006-07 Season