OWENSBORO, KY - There are no easy wins in the G-MAC this season, and that was proven today. The Panthers outscored the Thomas More Saints in all but one quarter, but that one 10 minute period of play made a big difference. After taking a large halftime lead, TMU outscored the Panthers 18-2 in the third to make it a one-point game going into the fourth. Wesleyan clutched up, however, and took this one by a score of 57-52. 

This was a revenge game for the Panthers, as they fell 74-58 at Thomas More in December. 

The Panthers improve to 17-5 (12-4 G-MAC), while Thomas More falls to 15-9 (11-6 G-MAC). 

Kentucky Wesleyan opened the game hot, hitting back-to-back threes off the hands of Corina Conley and Jordyn Barga. The Panthers went scoreless over the next six minutes, allowing Thomas More to take an 8-6 lead. The home side then flipped a switch, using buckets from Sydnee Richetto, Barga, and a few Conley free throws to close the quarter on a 9-0 run and take a 15-8 lead after one.

Myah Montgomery kept the Panthers ahead early in the second, hitting back-to-back threes to bring the Panthers lead up to double-digits. With 2:22 left in the quarter, Shaylee McDonald capped off a 13-2 run with a turnaround jumper, putting the crowd in a frenzy and giving Wesleyan a 36-17 lead. The Panthers held strong to close the quarter and went into the locker room with what they thought was a comfortable 38-21 advantage. 

The third quarter was one to forget for the home side, as Wesleyan scored just two points on 1-13 (7.7%) shooting from the floor and 0-5 from three. Thomas More took full advantage of Weslyan's scoring woes, scoring 18 point in the quarter and coming within one with just 10 minutes remaining. 

Senior Jordyn Barga got the Panthers back on track in the fourth, opening the quarter with a three to end their scoring draught. Thomas More came back and eventually took a three-point lead, but a three from Sydnee Richetto and a Corina Conley layup quickly took it right back. Trailing 49-48 with 2:42 remaining, the Panthers turned things up on both ends of the floor. Jordyn Barga scored four straight points to ignite a 7-0 Wesleyan run, putting KWC ahead 55-49 with just 22 seconds remaining. Richetto iced the game with two late free throws.

Wesleyan shot 18-47 (38.3%) from the field and 9-23 (39.1%) from three. Thomas More struggled in this one, shooting just 19-66 (28.8%) from the field and 6-26 (23.1%) from behind the arc. 

Jordyn Barga notched her eighth double-double of the season, finishing with 12 points and 11 boards. Also scoring 12 points were Sydnee Richetto and Corina Conley. Shaylee McDonald dished out five assists, while Myah Montgomery hit three threes and notched two blocks. 

The Panthers will hit the road next week as they travel to Cedarville on Thursday and Ursuline on Saturday. Tipoff for Thursday's contest at Cedarville is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. CT. 

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