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Thomas More women’s basketball making waves in NAIA after decade dominating NCAA D3
Thomas More earned its first NAIA No. 1 ranking in the Feb. 10 NAIA Coaches’ Top 25 Poll. After years dominating in the NCAA Division III, the move is a return to form for the Saints. (Courtesy: Thomas More Athletics)

Thomas More women’s basketball making waves in NAIA after decade dominating NCAA D3

CRESTVIEW HILLS, Ky. (BVM) — Seeing the Thomas More women’s basketball team at the top of the sport has become somewhat commonplace. Since head coach Jeff Hans’ first season with the program in 2011, he has helped the Saints to a 229-21 record, six conference regular season titles, seven conference tournament titles, eight national tournament berths and two NCAA Division III National Championships. While most of the success has come during the team’s tenure in Division III, there was a bit of a delay for the program to establish itself in the NAIA when it joined last year.

However, that transition is now over and Thomas More has again found itself on top. On Feb. 10, the NAIA released its fourth women’s basketball Coaches’ Top 25 Poll and at the top was the 20-1 Saints. This is the team’s first time ranking No. 1 since it rejoined the NAIA after being a member of Division III since 1990.

“They’re excited,” Hans said. “First time being ranked No. 1 in the NAIA in women’s basketball is a big deal for the program and for the university. … It just says a lot about where we’re at and hopefully we can continue to make strides and keep it. From my standpoint, it was happiness for them because of the hard work and not just this current team, but the alumni before them to get the program where it’s at. It’s more of an accomplishment for the players than anything.”

Last season, the Saints had some difficulties in the move to the NAIA and the Mid-South Conference. During the year, the Saints went 22-10, the most losses in a season for Hans as coach of the Saints. While the team began the season hot, the Saints would end up going only 9-7 in conference play.

“We got into the Mid-South and we just couldn’t knock off Campbellsville, we couldn’t knock off Shawnee State, we split with Lindsey-Wilson,” Hans said.

However, by year’s end, the Saints proved that they not only belonged, but could again be one of the best teams as they finished as runners-up in the Mid-South Conference Tournament and received an at-large bid to the NAIA Women’s Basketball National Championships prior to the cancellation of the tournament. The team also defeated three teams that were ranked in the NAIA Division I Top 25, including a victory over No. 2 Campbellsville in the semifinals of the conference tournament.

“It was huge,” Hans said. “I think it was big for us to get over the hump of Campbellsville because them and Shawnee have been the standard for the Mid-South, standard in the national polls and the national tournament and in the NAIA Division I. … That’s why having everything canceled hurt. I just felt so bad. For us, I thought we could make a run for a national tournament. I thought we were on the verge. Our guys have used that as a little motivation.”

Six wins over fellow top 25 teams have helped the Saints jump up to No. 1 in the rankings. (Courtesy: Thomas More Athletics)

Now, the Saints have proven the end of the year run was no fluke. This season, Thomas More has notched six wins against teams then ranked in the Top 25 including victories over No. 3 Marian on Nov. 15 and No. 1 Campbellsville on Feb. 1. Following a win against No. 12 Shawnee State on Feb. 8, the Saints jumped from No. 4 in the coaches poll to No. 1.

The Saints have done this through both strong defense and offense. The Saints currently rank No. 14 in 3-point field goals made per game with just over nine, No. 14 in scoring defense per game with an average of 57, No. 17 in total scoring offense and No. 24 in scoring margin, winning by an average of 16 points.

“It’s good because over the last couple of years we we’re the ones doing the hunting,” Hans said. “Everybody wants to be at the top. Now we’re there and we need to back it up. That’s one thing we’ve talked about. … [The MSC] is just so deep and so you can’t take any days off. As we prepare for these last few games we have to know that there’s a bigger picture to it and we don’t get caught up in it.”

Players gaining experience has also helped the team improve this year. Sophomore Courtney Hurst currently sits at No. 6 in the NAIA in individual 3-point field goals made with 63. Hurst also ranks No. 22 in 3-point field goals per game averaging three each game. Last year’s MSC Freshman of the Year and current sophomore Zoie Barth ranks No. 31 in total steals with 47, No. 40 in free throw percentage and No. 44 in total assists with 68.

Sophomores Zoie Barth, pictured, Courtney Hurst and Summer Secrist have helped fuel the Saints to their top spot after learning the ropes a year ago. (Courtesy: Thomas More Athletics)

“It is a young team, a bunch of freshmen, sophomores and some transfers,” Hans said. “I think [Hurst and Barth] along with Summer Secrist who played a lot of minutes for us last year, we threw them to the wolves. … I think [conference] last year really helped them grow and mature to where they are our leading scorers, lead us in assists and top rebounding for us as well and then complimenting them with some transfers that add so much depth to where we’re at.”

While it may have taken time for Thomas More to adjust to their new surroundings, the Saints are now prepared and engrained in the NAIA.

“I’m excited where we’re at and excited where we’re going. We’ve got to make sure we keep working towards that direction,” Hans said. “At the end of the day, if we’re able to play in the national tournament and be one of the top 48 teams and have a chance to try to play towards a national championship would mean a lot to us. Second year in the NAIA and able to do that, I think it just shows us where we’re at, how far we can go. We still don’t know yet. We’re still learning.”

This is bad news for the rest of the league as the Saints have shown they know how to win and win in the postseason as well. Good luck to the rest of the NAIA. This may be just the beginning for the Saints.