By Don Owen
NKyTribune sports activities editor

In competing on the NCAA Division III degree, Thomas Extra’s girls’s basketball program gained three nationwide championships.

Now a member of the NAIA, Thomas Extra is ranked No.1 nationally and is about to combat for an additional title. The Saints (25-1) start their journey to a doable nationwide championship Saturday at 7:30 p.m. on the Connor Convocation Heart.

Seeded Thomas Extra will meet the winner of the Union (Ky.) / Olivet Nazarene first spherical match on Friday. Olivet Nazarene is 17-3 and participates within the NAIA event with a nine-game successful streak. Union is 15-5 after dropping a 70-62 resolution to Reinhardt (Ga.) Within the semifinals of the Appalachian Athletic Convention event.

The 16 winners from every of the three-team teams throughout the nation will journey to Sioux Metropolis, Iowa, for the NAIA Finals. The fortieth annual championship takes place on the Tyson Occasion Heart from March 18-23.

Thomas Extra has a 10-game successful streak heading into Saturday’s sport. The Saints are 13-0 at dwelling this season and are 131-4 contained in the Connor Convocation Heart for the reason that 2012-13 marketing campaign.

Thomas Extra gained back-to-back NCAA Division III nationwide championships in 2014 and 2015. The Saints added a 3rd nationwide crown in 2019 earlier than transferring to the NAIA final season.

Sophomore guard Zoie Barth averages 13.2 factors per sport to steer a balanced assault for Thomas Extra. Highlands Excessive Faculty graduate Barth can be averaging 4.6 rebounds and three.2 assists per sport. She was named MVP of the Mid-South Convention event after main the Saints to the championship.

Sophomore guard Courtney Hurst scores 11.6 factors per sport and leads the staff by 3 factors with 69. Hurst, a Conner Excessive Faculty graduate, is 69 for 187 behind the arc.

Jeff Hans gained three nationwide championships at Thomas Extra. (Picture by Jeff McCurry)

Senior guard Briana McNutt is averaging 10.6 factors and 5.5 rebounds per sport. Junior guard Taylor Clos, a Campbell County highschool graduate who performed two years at Northern Kentucky College, scores 9.2 factors per contest. Clos have additionally drained 31 3-pointers this season.

Sophomore ahead / guard Emily Simon is averaging 7.6 factors and 5.4 rebounds per sport. Second-year goaltender Summer season Secrist scores 6.4 factors per combat, whereas second-year ahead Kenzie Schwarber averages 5.7 factors per sport.

First-year guard Maggie Jones – who racked up 14 factors towards Campbellsville within the championship sport of the Mid-South Convention Event – scores 4.9 factors per combat.

Thomas Extra averages 72.1 factors per sport and limits opposition to 56.0 factors per sport.

Head coach Jeff Hans gained three nationwide championships at Thomas Extra and is 254-22 in 10 years with the Saints. Hans guided the Saints to excellent seasons in 2014-15 (33-0), 2015-16 (33-0) and 2018-19 (33-0).

The NCAA compelled Thomas Extra out of the 2014-15 Nationwide Championship and all 33 wins because of an eligibility challenge found after the season.

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