By Don Owen
NKyTribune sports activities editor

In line with the numbers, Olivet Nazarene’s odds of flattening host Thomas Extra within the NAIA event on Saturday evening had been lower than 3%.

In spite of everything, Thomas Extra had a 131-4 document contained in the Connor Convocation Heart over the previous 9 seasons. That is a 97% profitable proportion and contains six undefeated house seasons.

Add to that the truth that Thomas Extra is ranked No.1 nationally within the NAIA ballot – with the Saints’ 13-0 house document this season by Saturday – and it is easy to see why Olivet Nazarene apparently has faces insurmountable odds.

Regardless of Olivet Nazarene’s deep bench, the stress everywhere in the pitch and the lightning-fast tempo, the odds had been proper on Saturday evening. Thomas Extra constructed a 14-point lead early on and took a 98-82 victory over Olivet Nazarene. The Saints (26-1) used one-off passes to beat the press and shot 50.8 p.c from the sphere to increase their profitable streak to 11 video games.

Thomas Extra additionally broke Olivet Nazarene’s 10-game profitable streak and improved to 14-0 at house this season.

Zoie Barth – who was injured in a automotive crash earlier within the day however was cleared to play by medics after a visit to the hospital – scored 24 factors as Thomas Extra received a visit to the eighth closing within the NAIA Finals subsequent week. in Sioux Metropolis, Iowa. The fortieth annual championship takes place on the Tyson Occasion Heart from March 18-23.

Barth, a Highlands Excessive College graduate, additionally distributed seven assists, caught six rebounds and had two steals. This only a few hours after being concerned within the accident.

“Simply bruised ribs,” Barth stated of his harm earlier immediately. “I ended up going to the hospital in an ambulance.”

Thomas Extra head coach Jeff Hans stated he did not assume Barth would play after receiving a telephone name concerning the crash earlier immediately. “She wished to be right here with everybody and never give it some thought,” he stated. “We knew she can be in ache.”

Thomas Extra guard Courtney Hurst tries to make an acrobatic cease towards Olivet Nazarene on Saturday evening. (Picture by Jeff McCurry)

Barth not solely performed, however led the Saints to victory towards a deep and gifted staff of Olivet Nazarene.

“It is Zoie. He is our chief, ”stated Hans. “She’s the one we’re following. The staff was behind her, and as quickly as I spoke with Zoie and her mother and made certain every part was okay, my (response) was that I’ll attempt to provide you with breaks.

Barth wanted a couple of breaks – even towards the fast-paced type of Olivet Nazarene. The sophomore goaltender performed 37 minutes and completed 9-for-15 on the sphere.

Thomas Extra buried 5 3-pointers within the first seven minutes to construct a 19-5 lead. Courtney Hurst drained a 3-point trio to ignite the Saints’ push early within the recreation. Thomas Extra continued to run towards the all-pressure protection and took a 50-36 benefit in intermission.

“I believed we had good goalkeepers, and so they’re adequate to interrupt the press,” stated Hans. “It is a totally different type of press than the one in Campbellsville that we simply confronted final week. However Campbellsville’s stress is 40 minutes, identical to Olivet’s. Our purpose was to get good pictures and we acquired off to begin.

The Saints toppled an Olivet Nazarene staff who had received a 110-73 victory over Union (Ky.) 24 hours earlier within the first spherical of the NAIA event. Thomas Extra acquired a go within the first spherical.

“Thomas Extra are an distinctive staff and hit numerous punches,” stated Olivet Nazarene head coach Lauren Glenn. “We anticipated them to be an excellent 3-point taking pictures staff. We needed to hit a couple of extra and carry out a few of our stuff a little bit higher. However I’m very happy with our daughters and of all that we’ve got completed and overcome this season.

Thomas Extra’s Alexah Chrisman is inside for a basket towards Olivet Nazarene. (Picture by Jeff McCurry)

Briana McNutt and Alexah Chrisman every added 18 factors for Thomas Extra, who received the rebound battle by a 41-40 margin. McNutt caught 10 rebounds and Chrisman added 9 boards.

Thomas Extra goaltender Taylor Clos completed with 14 factors, whereas teammate Emily Simon scored 11 factors and grabbed eight rebounds. Thomas Extra shot 13 for 30 with a variety of three factors.

Kennedy Johnson posted a document 35 factors for Olivet Nazarene, who completed the season 18-4. The Tigers had scored a minimum of 100 factors in 5 of their earlier seven video games and had been undefeated (9-0) on the highway earlier than Saturday evening.

“I believe everybody within the constructing was exhausted after watching Olivet with the system and every part they do,” Hans stated. “The peloton, all three and the entire transition. It’s troublesome to organize. They do an ideal job with it.

“We talked about not giving up on all three. Be certain that they’ve been disputed by threes. I believe we did job on the offensive boards, aside from the third quarter. And we solely had six turnovers within the second half. It was a key, and I am happy with our efforts towards an excellent staff.

Thomas Extra is searching for his fourth nationwide championship in eight years. The Saints received back-to-back NCAA Division III Nationwide Championships in 2014 and 2015. Thomas Extra added a 3rd nationwide crown in 2019 earlier than shifting to the NAIA final season.

“You count on to (problem) as a result of that is the place that program is,” Hans stated when requested about his participation within the nationwide closing solely within the second season of competitors within the NAIA. and if he might have imagined the place his staff is immediately. “Realistically, no. Two years in (the NAIA) and we’re in a position to win the (Mid-South Convention). We’re the No. 1 seed within the nationwide event. I believe that claims loads about this system and the gamers we’ve got.

The NAIA will re-seed the remaining 16 groups and announce pairings for the nationwide closing on Sunday.

Don Owen is a sports activities author for the Northern Kentucky Tribune. Contact him at [email protected] and observe him on Twitter at @dontribunesport.