Pagebreak within tables of scientific articles
I would avoid breaking a table that does not need to be broken (that is less than a single page).  It is much easier on the reader instead to have some blank space in the text and turn the page.  This is especially true in a thesis, where there is strong emphasis on clarity over space economy.  (Theses tend to have wider margins, spacing, etc. versus printed journals.)  So, yes, a page break is much better than a table break.

You can just expect the reader to go to the next page(s).  Does not need to be a facing page.  That is fine for numbered figures, tables, etc.  And basically required if you have text that discusses several figures or tables such that they can not all be easily embedded because of the number discussed in a small section of text.  But after all, that is what the numbers are for! 

I have even seen it acceptable to put all figures, tables, endnote citations, etc. at the end of the chapter.  Similar to how you submit a journal article.  Basically required in the typewriter era.  And still acceptable when I wrote my thesis c. 2000.  (And yes, using Word.)

Note:  If you have tables in Word that cover more than a page, please DO turn on the Word feature that copies the header row to each new page.  (Highlight the top row cells, right click...table properties, "row" tab, click the box that says repeat as header row.)  It is also useful if you have bold or shading or the like to call out the header row of the table, so it is not confused as a data field. 

Also if you do have tables breaking across pages, make sure you select the whole table and then DEselect (uncheck)  the same-place row tab box that allows for rows to break on separate pages.  Don't allow that.  No, no, no.  ;-)