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2006-07 PAC CHAMPS
3/2/07
Season Comes to End
WILMINGTON, OH - Juniors Kristen Humphrey (New Richmond, OH/CHCA) and Tangie Sellers (Florence/Boone County) combined for 21 points, but it wasn't enough as Thomas More's record-setting season came to an end with a 53-38 loss in the first round of the NCAA Division III National Tournament.
It was season in which the Saints achieve many of their preseason goals - including winning the Presidents' Athletic Conference and advancing to the NCAA Tournament. TMC also set a new school record with 22 wins as they wrap up the 2006-07 campaign at 22-5. But, this wasn't an ending many Thomas More faithful envisioned. Thomas More managed a season-low 38 points and shot just 31 percent from the field. The Saints were outrebounded for only the fourth time all season.
Humphrey gave the Saints the lead with a three-pointer on Thomas More's first possession. However over the next eight possessions that spanned seven-plus minutes, the Saints turned the ball over four times and failed to make a basket. Humphrey ended the drought at 12:04, and Thomas More was down nine.
But the Saints didn't waver as they trimmed the lead down to four points and then had the ball, down five with 25 seconds remaining. However, Thomas More's 12th turnover of the half gave the Knights possession in which they capitalized, taking a six-point lead into the break.
An 8-2 run out of the locker room gave Calvin a 10-point lead that eventually grew to 13. Thomas More had one last run in it as the Saints trimmed its deficit to seven with 10 minutes to play. Then TMC had two shots at getting closer to the Knights, but neither shot fell and Calvin gradually pulled away.
Humphrey finished the game with 14 points and three rebounds, while Sellers added seven points and four boards. In her final collegiate game, Megan Wood (Falmouth/Pendleton County) pulled down a team-high five caroms.
2/25/07
Thomas More earns NCAA Berth, will play Calvin
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - The Thomas More College women's basketball team, fresh off a Presidents' Athletic Conference title and school record 22 wins, now know what path they will have to follow through the NCAA Tournament.
“We’ve been working towards this goal (the NCAA Tournament) for three years and its just a rewarding feeling to finally get there,” said head coach Brian Neal, who is making his first trip to the tournament as a head coach. “I’m so happy for our players and especially the three seniors, who have put so much into our program.”
The Saints will be heading to Wilmington, OH to face Calvin College 5:30 p.m. Friday. Calvin (25-2) lost to the defending National Champion Hope in the finals of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association.
“In the last regular season Top 25 poll, Calvin was ranked No. 2 in the country,” Neal said. “What a great opportunity to see where our program stands on the national level.”
It will the program’s fifth trip to the NCAA Tournament, and the first since 2004. The Saints are 4-4 in NCAA Tournament action.
The other two teams in the bracket, Wilmington and Ogelthorpe (GA), will play 7:30 p.m. Friday. The winners of the two games will meet 7:30 p.m. Saturday.
2/24/07
Big Three leads Saints to Title
The three Thomas More players that earned all-conference honors displayed why Saturday as the Saints won the Presidents' Athletic Conference championship, beating Westminster, 59-50, at the Connor Convocation Center.
Senior Megan Wood (Falmouth/Pendleton County) and Brooke Warner (Maineville, OH/Kings), along with junior Kristen Humphrey (New Richmond, OH/CHCA) combined for 43 points, 22 rebounds and seven assists in the victory.
The win also set a new school record with 22 wins. Thomas More must wait til 10 p.m. Sunday to learn if they qualified for the NCAA Tournament. The PAC doesn't have the automatic qualifier until next season.
Unlike the two previous meetings with the Titans, Thomas More jumped out early. And after Humphrey nailed a 3-pointer halfway through the first half, the Saints led by 10. The TMC lead grew to as much as 13,  but Westminster got a basket late to trail by 11 going into the break.
Part of the Saints' success could be attributed to the defense of junior Jenna Kelsch (Foster/Pendleton County) and sophomore Gabby Johnson (McCordsville, IN/Mt. Vernon). The duo held PAC Player of the Year Desiree Sterling to just two first-half points.
The Titans weren't ready to hand the championship over to Thomas More without a fight. They quickly trimmed the lead to six just four minutes into the half. However, a 3-pointer by Warner and four straight from Wood, and the elad was back to 11.
Westminster had one last run in them, cutting its deficit to four with a little over one minute remaining. But, Humphrey and Johnson hit two free throws each to seal the title.
Humphrey finished the game with 14 points and 10 rebounds for her second double-double of the season, while Warner had her first with 13 points and 11 boards. Wood scored 16 points to lead Thomas More.
2/22/07
Brooke puts Saints on brink
Senior Brooke Warner (Maineville, OH/Kings) wasn't ready for the possible end of her career.
The small forward scored eight straight points and hauled in an offensive rebound that led to a three-pointer as Thomas More advanced to the Presidents' Athletic Conference final with the 69-42 win over Bethany. The Saints will play Westminster 2 p.m. Saturday in the final. TMC won both match-ups with the Titans this season. However, it took a second half comeback and an overtime spurt to post both wins.
Thomas More struggled all evening to put the feisty Bison away as its biggest lead of the first half was three points. TMC even trailed by as much as six in the initial half.
The second half featured four ties before Warner stepped in and guided the Saints to the victory.
Warner finished the game with 21 points, four rebounds and two assists in the win. Junior Tangie Sellers (Florence/Boone County) added 10 points, six rebounds, four blocks and two assists for the Saints.
Humphrey receives first-team honor
Thomas More junior Kristen Humphrey (New Richmond, OH/CHCA) earned first-team All-Presidents' Athletic Conference Friday between the PAC semifinals.
Humphrey, who was named honorable mention PAC last season, was second on the team with 10.3 points and 5.3 rebounds.
Seniors Megan Wood (Falmouth/Pendleton County) and Brooke Warner (Mainevlle, OH/Kings) earned second team laurels as well. Wood led the team with 10.6 points and 6.8 board on her way to her first PAC honor. Warner, who struggled in the non-conference schedule, emerged with 10.4 points and 5.9 rebounds in the conference season.
2/17/07
Saints win, will host PAC Tournament
GROVE CITY, PA - With two flips of a coin and a huge road 73-59 win over Grove City, the Thomas More Saints clinched a share of the Presidents' Athletic Conference regular season crown and the top seed for the tournament.
First, TMC scored the first eight points en route to its regular season finale victory. Following the win, coach Brian Neal headed to Westminster College for the three-way coin flip with Washington & Jefferson and Westminster. After the first flip came up all tails, Neal was the lone tail as they other two coaches had heads sending the semifinals and finals to Crestview Hills.
The win also gave the program's their first back-to-back 20-win seasons.
Senior Megan Wood (Falmouth/Pendleton County) and sophomore Alex Gee (Cincinnati, OH/Glen Este) scored 15 points each as the Saints led for the entire contest. Thomas More scored 11 straight points opening up a 18-point lead, however, the Wolverines answered with 10 consecutive points of their own - and the Saints led by eight. The Saints scored the last five points of the break, including a lay-up by Kristen Humphrey (New Richmond, OH/CHCA) at the buzzer - and the TMC lead was 13 at the half.
Grove City had one push getting the deficit to single figures at nine in the opening moments. But, the momentum didn't last last as Thomas More scored 10 straight to put the game on ice.
2/15/07
Kelsch Nets Career High
WAYNESBURG, PA - It was a Pendleton County type of game Thursday for the Thomas More Saints.
Junior Jenna Kelsch (Foster/Pendleton County) scored a career-high 12 points, and senior Megan Wood (Falmouth/Pendleton County) recorded her third double-double of the season as the Saints defeated Waynesburg, 65-53.
The win allowed the Saints to remain in a three-way logjam atop Presidents' Athletic Conference standings with Washington & Jefferson and Westminster leading to the final regular season contest of the year. If all three teams are victorious Saturday, the conference tournament's top seed will be determined by a coin flip. Thomas More (19-4 overall, 9-2) will be going for its first back-to-back 20-win season as they travel to Grove City.
Six different Thomas More players scored during a span in which the TMC outscored its hosts 21-3 to seize control of the contest. The run enabled the Saints to take a 13-point lead, but nearly half the bulge was cut as the WC trailed by just seven at the break.
Junior Amanda Link (Cincinnati, OH/Glen Este) scored five quick points out of the intermission to help Thomas More build its lead to a game-high 13 points. The early start didn't rattle the Yellow Jackets, who have lost five straight PAC games, as they trimmed half the deficit once again. However, they could never going the six-point barrier, and Thomas More iced the game going 8-of-8 from the charity stripe.
Senior Brooke Warner (Maineville, OH/Kings) aded 14 points, nine rebounds and four assists in the victory.
2/10/07
Thomas More rebounds with win
GREENVILLE, PA -
Thomas More began its season-ending three-game road swing with a 69-58 win over Thiel. Alex Gee (Cincinnati, OH/Glen Este) and Megan Wood (Falmouth/Pendleton County) each scored 13 points to lead the Saints in a game in which they led the entire 40 minutes.
The Saints couldn't get their first half lead to double figures, and the Tomcats were on the verge of taking the lead on several occasions. Junior Jennifer Teski (Cincinnati, OH/Glen Este) scored four points late, and the Saints had a nine-point halftime advantage with the 8-0 run.
Thomas More scored the first four points of the half, building its lead to 13 points. The Tomcats eventually cut the lead down to four points but a Gee 3-pointer gave the Saints some more breathing room.
The Saints remained in a three-way tie as Westminster posted a win and W&J overcame a halftime deficit to get a victory. Thomas More (18-4, 8-2) will travel to Waynesburg 5:30 p.m. Wednesday.
2/7/07
Heartbreak City
For the second straight game, the Thomas More Saints had to go into overtime. This time with drastically different results. After scoring 20 points Saturday in the extra session, the Saints managed just one point in falling to arch nemesis Washington & Jefferson, 49-48.
The loss put Thomas More in a three-way tie for first place in the Presidents' Athletic Conference with Westminster and Washington & Jefferson. TMC has lost to W&J twice, but beaten Westminster twice. WC has two wins over the Presidents', meaning if all three teams win out, the top seed in the conference tournament could come down to coin flip.
The Saints took the lead in overtime on a free throw by junior Kristen Humphrey (New Richmond, OH/CHCA). Neither team could do much offensively in the extra period. The visitors took the lead with a little more than a minute remaining. TMC had a couple chances to take the lead, and when senior Brooke Warner's (Maineville, OH/Kings) layup fell to the side - the three teams were tied.
Thomas More had an opportunity to win the game at the end of the half, but sophomore Gabby Johnson (McCordsville, IN/Mount Vernon) had her floater go halfway down and pop out.
Junior Tangie Sellers (Florence/Boone County) and senior Megan Wood (Falmouth/Pendleton County) each scored nine points to lead Thomas More. Warner and Humprey each added eight points in the loss.
It was the last regular season home game for Warner, Wood and Amber Sims (Walton/Walton-Verona).
The Saints (17-4, 7-2) will have to rebound quickly as they end the season with three straight road games, beginning Saturdat at Thiel.
2/3/07
Saints shoot to top
 Thomas More connected on all seven of its shots in overtime and scored the first 13 points of the extra session en route to the 82-69 victory over Westminster Saturday at the Connor Convocation Center.
The win gives the Saints sole possession of first place in the Presidents' Athletic Conference with four games remaining. Thomas More (17-3, 7-1) will host Washington & Jefferson 8 p.m. Wednesday in its final regular season home game. It will also mark the final regular season home game for seniors Megan Wood (Falmouth/Pendleton County), Brooke Warner (Maineville, OH/Kings) and Amber Sims (Covington/Walton-Verona). The Presidents' handed TMC its lone PAC loss of the season.
Sophomore Alex Gee (Cincinnati, OH/Glen Este) gave TMC the lead just nine seconds into overtime with a 3-pointer. Junior Tangie Sellers (Florence/Boone County) proceeded to take over. After assisting on a Kristen Humphrey (New Richmond, OH/CHCA) 3-pointer, the 5-11 forward converted a lay-up and 3-pointer leading to a Westminster timeout. Following the break, Sellers had a steal and lay-up to push the Thomas More lead to 13 midway through overtime.
However, it was the clutch play of Humphrey that allowed Thomas More to get to overtime. After going scoreless in the first half, she stroked two huge 3-pointers down the stretch. She gave the Saints a two-point lead with three minutes remaining. Then after Westminster took a three-point lead with less than two minutes left, she immediately tied the contest with a matching 3-pointer.
Westminster - which led the for almost the entire first half - reclaimed the lead with 1:16 remaining. Thomas More had two opportunities to take the lead, and on the second miss - Wood was fouled on the rebound. She entered the game converting just 47 percent of her free throw attempts, but nailed both attempts to knot the game at 62. She also connected on all five of free throws on the game. The Titans had the potential game-winner fall short with seven seconds left.
The Titans took an early 10-point lead before Thomas More crawled back into the contest, and TMC only trailed by one at the break. Coming out the intermission, the Saints scored nine straight points to build an eight-point cushion. However, WC answered with a 23-7 run to take its own eight-point lead.
Following a timeout, a Gee 3-pointer brought the Saints back to live, then Humphrey and Sellers just the majority of the lifting afterwards.
Wood led the Saints with 19 points and nine rebounds, while Sellers scored 16 points with two assists, two blocks and a steal. Junior Jenna Kelsch (Foster/Pendleton County) had a solid game with seven points, six rebounds and six assists with just one turnover.
1/31/07
Warner punches card to 1,000-point club
BETHANY, WV-With her basket three minutes into the second half, senior Brooke Warner (Maineville, OH/Kings) became the 12th member of the Thomas More women's basketball 1,000-point club as Thomas More pulled to a first-place conference tie after posting a 70-49 win over Bethany Wednesday in Hummel Field House.
Warner was one of four Thomas More players to reach double figures with a team-high 15 points. Juniors Tangie Sellers (Florence/Boone County), Jenna Kelsch (Foster/Pendleton County), and Kristen Humphrey (New Richmond, OH/CHCA) added 14, 12 and 11 points, respectively. It was a season-high for Kelsch.
The game was nip and tuck for the first 10 minutes before Thomas More scored 11 straight points to open up its first double-figure lead of the day. The Bisons pulled to within five, but Warner nailed a 3-pointer to end the half - giving TMC a eight-point halftime advantage.
Thomas More gradually pulled away in the second half, and junior Amanda Link (Cincinnati, OH/Glen Este) gave the Saints their biggest lead of the game at 21.
Senior Megan Wood (Falmouth/Pendleton County) added a team-high eight rebounds, while Sellers chipped in with seven.
The Saints (16-3, 6-1) will host Presidents' Athletic Conference-foe Westminster Saturday for conference supremacy. Both teams are tied atop the PAC at 6-1, and Thomas More overcame an 18-point deficit earlier this season to post the 58-57 win over the Titans in New Wilmington.
1/27/07
Thomas More declaws Bearcats
Thomas More went to work on the glass outrebounding its visitors by 26 and breezed to a 63-49 victory over Presidents' Athletic Conference foe Saint Vincent in the Connor Convocation Center.
The win doesn't count toward PAC standing as SVC is a provisional NCAA Div. III winner. It also drops Thomas More a half-game out of first place behind Westminster, which defeated Washington & Jefferson Saturday.
With the rebounding edge that included 17 offensive boards, the Saints had a 14-4 lead in second chance points as Thomas More never trailed.
TMC threatened to pull away in the first half with a 12-3 that gave the Saints their biggest lead of the half at 18. However, Thomas More got out of sync offensively and the Bearcats to within six - leading to a timeout. The lead stabilized at six and TMC lead at the break.
The typical balanced attack reared its head again in the second half as five players scored during another Thomas More spurt, this one 16-4, which lifted TMC to a 21-point advantage with 8:23 left. Saint Vincent had another run in them but the Bearcats couldn't get the lead to single figures.
Junior Kristen Humphrey (New Richmond, OH/CHCA) recorded her first career double-double with 16 points and a career-high 10 points. Senior Megan Wood (Falmouth/Pendleton County) had her third double-figure rebounding performance of the season with 10 boards. Junior Tangie Sellers (Florence/Boone County) added nine points, four rebounds and two steals in the win. Senior Brooke Warner (Maineville, OH/Kings) chipped in with a team-high six assists, and with her eight points needs 14 points to reach the 1,000-point plateau.
Thomas More (15-3, 5-1 PAC) will travel to Bethany Wednesday to play the Bisons in PAC action. The Saints were 62-44 victors in the Bluegrass on January 10.
1/24/07
Saints live in 3-G
 Thomas More closed the first half of Presidents' Athletic Conference action tied atop the standings after posting a 73-44 win over Waynesburg Wednesday in the Connor Convocation Center.
"I told the girls that we are in a six-game race to the finish," said head coach Brian Neal, whose Saints are tied with Westminster and Washington & Jefferson at 5-1. "We have a long way to go. There is a lot of basketball yet to be play and its going to be an exciting finish."
Sophomore Alex Gee (Cincinnati, OH/Glen Este) connected on seven three-pointers to tally 22 points in the victory. Senior Brooke Warner (Maineville, OH/Kings) and junior Kristen Humphrey (New Richmond, OH/CHCA) added 14 and 12 points, respectively. The point totals leaves Warner 22 points shy of the 1,000-point plateau. The 5-8 senior chipped in with eight assists and six rebounds.
After the Yellow Jackets scored the first two, TMC scored the next eight leading to a Waynesburg timeout. The visitors would take two more first-half timeouts in an attempt to halt the Thomas More - all to no avail. Following back-to-back three's from Gee, the Saints took a 17-point lead into the locker room.
Waynesburg had one brief run in it to get to with 12. But, Thomas More scored eight straight to get the lead to 20, and the Yellow Jackets has lost their sting.
Thomas More (14-3, 5-1 PAC) will host conference foe Saint Vincent 1 p.m. Saturday. The game doesn't count toward the standing as the Bearcats are only provisional NCAA Div. III members.
1/20/07
Sellers leads Saints to Victory
Junior Tangie Sellers (Florence/Boone County) scored a team-high 14 points and Thomas More used a 21-4 run late in the first half to seize control of the game, posting a 70-59 win over Grove City Saturday in the Connor Convocation Center.
Thomas More improved to 4-1 in the PAC, and remained tied atop the conference with Westminster and Washington & Jefferson - which also claimed wins Saturday.
The Saints got off to a slow start, and trailed by eight points just five minutes into the game. However, Sellers and sophomore Gabby Johnson (McCordsville, IN/Mount Vernon) sparked the key run. The duo scored five points each during the pivotal stretch, and TMC took a nine-point halftime lead.
Coming out of the break, the home team stretch their advantage to 13 points before the Wolverines got themselve back into the contest, scoring nine straight points.
It was a block and steal on the defensive end by Sellers that got the Saints rolling again, and when she executed a three-point play - the Thomas More lead was 13. The lead ballooned to 20 points before head coach Brian Neal emptied the bench.
Junior Kristen Humphrey (New Richmond, OH/CHCA) added 11 points and four rebounds. The point guard duo of Johnson and junior Jenna Kelsch (Foster/Pendleton County) combined for 12 points, nine rebounds - Johnson pulling down a team-high six - seven assists, three steals and zero turnovers.
The Saints will host Waynesburg 5:30 p.m. Saturday in Presidents' Athletic Conference action.
1/17/07
Saints suffer First PAC loss
For the first time in 2007, Thomas More came up on the short on the scoreboard - falling to Washington & Jefferson Wednesday, 53-49, at the Henry Center.
It was the first PAC loss of the season, forcing a first place tie at 3-1 with the Presidents and Westminster. It is also the third straight loss to Washington & Jefferson for the Saints.
Thomas More connected on back-to-back three-pointers to close the first half and take a one-point lead in the locker room. Coincidently, all three TMC losses have come after leading at the break.
The Presidents, who shot 66 percent from the field in the second half, had a 14-4 spurt in the early portions of the second half - leading to a Thomas More timeout. The deficit would grow to as much as 11 points before TMC marched back.
Down four in the latter part of the contest, the Saints had three shots but none of them fell.
Senior Megan Wood (Falmouth/Pendleton County) led Thomas More with 14 points and eight rebounds.
Thomas More (12-3, 3-1 PAC) will look to get back on the winning streak 1 p.m. Saturday when they host Grove City.
1/13/07
Three Thomas More players scored in double figures as the Saints won their third Presidents' Athletic Conference game of the season, staying unbeaten in the league, beating Thiel, 76-56, Saturday.
1/10/07
In a game that pitted the last two unbeaten teams in conference play, Thomas More knocked Bethany from the unbeaten ranks with a 62-44 victory Wednesday in Connor Convocation Center.
1/6/07
NEW WILMINGTON, PA - Sophomore Gabby Johnson (McCordville, IN/Mt. Vernon) connected on a free throw with six seconds remaining to lift Thomas More to the comeback victory over Westminster Saturday, 58-57, in the Buzz Ridl Gymnasium.
12/30/06
When the ball isn't falling for you, your best chance to register a victory is to keep your opponent from scoring.
12/29/06
One of these games were bound to happen.
After teetering on the verge of defeat for the last two weeks, Thomas More (8-2) converted just six percent of its long range shots in falling to Transylvania, 62-58, in the Thomas More Winter Classic.
12/19/06
ST. THOMAS, VI - Thomas More placed four in double figures as the Saints won their eighth straight game, beating Div. II Davis & Elkins Tuesday in the Virgin Islands Winter Classic, 69-65.
12/16/06
CINCINNATI, OH - Thomas More overcame a 13-point second half deficit to get off to the best start in school history as the Saints downed rival Mount St. Joseph Saturday, 66-59. The Saints raised their record to 7-1 after posting its seventh straight victory.
12/9/06
LATROBE, PA - Three straight three-pointers to start the second half helped Thomas More turn a four-point deficit into a five-point lead as the Saints opened Presidents' Athletic Conference action with a 58-48 win over Saint Vincent.
12/6/06
Say it with me .... D-E-F-E-N-S-E.
Behind a much needed strong defensive effort, the Thomas More Saints overcame a poor shooting night to post a 45-36 non-conference win Wednesday over Wittenberg at Connor Convocation Center.
11/30/06
DELAWARE, OH - Senior forward Megan Wood (Falmouth/Pendleton County) recorded her first double-double of the season as Thomas More won a key regional non-conference contest, beating Ohio Wesleyan, 69-60.
11/26/06
A day after pounding away for 40 points in the paint, the Thomas More Saints showed their versatility by nailing 14 three-pointers en route to winning the Fifth Annual Julie Costello Memorial Classic with a 73-56 win over Anderson.
11/25/06
Thomas More vaunted transition offense returned Saturday as the Saints ran away with the 64-47 win over Centre in the semifinals of the Fifth Annual Julie Costello Memorial Classic at the Connor Convocation Center.
11/18/06
DANVILLE - A 13-2 spurt midway through the second half allowed Thomas More to earn its first win of the season as they knocked off Centre Saturday, 58-45.
11/17/06
DANVILLE - Outhustled. Outmuscled. Outrebounded.
That spelled disaster for the Thomas More Saints as they dropped its season opener to Sewanee Friday, 59-54, in the opening game of Centre College's Country Hearth Inn/Lee Famous Recipe Classic 2006.
10/25/06
TMC women picked first, men last
PITTSBURGH, PA - To begin its second season in the Presidents' Athletic Conference, the Thomas More women's basketball team will have the proverbial bullseye on their back.
The Saints were picked to finish first in the conference by a collection of PAC coaches, sports information directors and media at the 2006-07 PAC Basketball Media Day at Mellon Arena Wednesday.
"It's nice to receive recognition for our program, and I just hope the voters are as accurate as last year (when preseason favorite Washington & Jefferson won the title)," said third-year head coach Brian Neal. "We have a pretty experienced returning core and those players are looking forward to the challenge ahead."
Thomas More, who finished second last season and returned four starters, received 23 of 31 first place votes and a total of 208 points. Defending PAC champion Washington & Jefferson was second with 151 total points and three first-place votes, followed by Westminster (146), Waynesburg (109), Bethany (95), Thiel (89) and Grove City (70).
At the opposite end of the voting spectrum were the Thomas More men's team.
Coming off a 2-24 season, he Saints picked up 47 points and were picked to finish last. Waynesburg was picked to win the conferenc with 171 points and eight first-place votes. Washington & Jefferson, who earned the most first place votes with 12, were picked second with 160 total points, followed by reigning PAC champion Bethany (145), Westminster (132), Grove City (83), Thiel (62) and Thomas More.
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