The Aquinas women's basketball team battled and fought the whole way, but could not finish off the #11-ranked Indiana Tech Warriors as they were defeated in overtime by a 61-58 margin on Wednesday (Jan. 8) at the Sturrus Center. AQ forced overtime on a layup in the final two seconds of regulation but were outscored 8-5 in the extra frame by the defending WHAC champions in a tough and gritty matchup.
 
Indiana Tech improves its WHAC-leading record to 7-1 in the conference and 13-4 overall while the Saints fell to 9-8 overall and 5-3 in the WHAC.
 
AQ started off strong with a 16-8 spurt in the first quarter by shooting 7-of-13 (53.8%) from the field. However, the Warriors responded with a 19-6 run in the second quarter to take a 27-22 lead at half time. The Saints fought back in the third quarter with a 19-10 advantage by shooting 8-of-15 (53.3%) from the field in the frame.
 
Overall, the Saints led the game in shooting percentage by a 25-of-66 (37.9 percent) to 22-of-64 (34.4 percent) margin; this includes a 3-of-11 (27.3 percent) to 4-of-21 (19.0 percent) advantage in three-point shooting. AQ also went 5-of-6 (83.3 percent) from the free throw line while Indiana Tech shot 13-of-17 (76.5 percent).
 
Three Saints reached double figures on Wednesday, including two double-double efforts from Camaryia Williams and Marissa Brady. Williams led all players in rebounding with 14 boards (seven offensive and seven defensive) while topping the Saints in scoring as well with 13 points on 6-of-13 shooting including a three-pointer. She also led AQ with six assists. Brady scored 11 points on 5-of-9 shooting while grabbing 10 rebounds (seven defensive, three offensive). Brady led the game with three blocked shots.
 
Jaylynn Williams scored the game-tying layup to force overtime and totaled 12 points for the game headlined by 2-of-5 made three-point shots. Williams also added six rebounds (all defensive) and four assists. Daz'Sha Day and Ally Frederickson each tallied eight points. Day had two assists and made both of her free throws while Frederickson shot 4-of-5 from the field. Frederickson grabbed six defensive rebounds in the effort. JaKarri Alven dished out three assists while Jordyn Wigg had two helpers.
 
Aquinas had advantages in overall rebounding (46-39), offensive rebounding (12-10), defensive rebounding (34-29), assists (18-10), blocks (4-1), points in the paint (36-32) and bench points (20-18) while the Warriors led in steals (7-1), points off turnovers (12-2), second-chance points (7-6) and fast break points (4-2).
 
There were 10 lead changes in the game as well as nine ties as the teams went back and forth throughout. Indiana Tech shot 3-of 4 (75 percent) in overtime while the Saints only went 2-of-11 (18.2 percent) from the field in the extra frame. Day had a chance to force a second overtime period but her three-pointer at the buzzer came up short.
 
AQ returns to the court on Saturday, January 11th when they make a short bus trip to face WHAC-rival Cornerstone on the road. The game is scheduled for 1:00 PM.