The Aquinas women's basketball team hit the road for the third straight game to open the 2021-22 season and ultimately fell to Ohio Christian on Thursday night (Nov. 4). The Saints held a seven point lead at halftime over the Trailblazers, but AQ was outscored by 10 in the third quarter and could not climb back out of the hole against OCU losing 65-58 in the Maxwell Center.
Aquinas now has a record of 1-2 in its non-conference portion of the schedule and Ohio Christian, an NAIA school out of the River States Conference, improves to 2-0 on the season.
The first quarter was a high scoring affair with the Saints holding a 20-15 lead, thanks to a 10-4 run from the 5:21 mark to the 1:50 mark. The next ten minutes saw the scoring fall off with only 20 points total were scored by both teams. Aquinas was able to extend their lead by two points before the break, leading by as much as 12 in the first half.
The third quarter is where the tables turned in favor of the Trailblazers. The Saints held the same seven point lead up until 1:58 remaining before the final quarter. OCU hit on five straight possessions including back-to-back-to-back threes for the final three bucks to turn a seven point deficit into a five point lead. Aquinas scored four quick points to open the fourth quarter until Ohio Christian went on a 11-2 run to extend the lead to eight and seal the victory.
Aquinas shot 47.8% from the floor after making 22-46 attempts. The Saints were only able to make two of 12 from behind the three point line and also were 12-15 from the free throw line. The Trailblazers shot 44% from the floor after going 22-50. OCU made six of 24 three point tries and were also 15-22 from the free throw stripe.
In her 2021-22 season debut, reigning All-American and WHAC Defensive Player of the Year, Marissa Brady, nearly had a double-double after leading the team with 19 points and nine rebounds. Brady was also nearly perfect from the floor, making seven of eight shots and going 5-6 from the free throw line. Daz'Sha Day also contributed a season high 18 points by going 9-11 from the field. Brighton Miller made the only two trifectas for the Saints and finished with eight points on the night.
Aquinas and Ohio Christian finished with 24 rebounds a piece with AQ having eight assists to OCU's seven. The Trailblazers had 14 turnovers, nine steals, and a block, while the Saints finished with 17 turnovers, six steals, and did not register a block. Ohio Christian held a 20-7 advantage in points off turnovers, but the Aquinas bench outscored OCU 11-1.
Aquinas will host Huntington in its home opener on Tuesday (Nov. 9) in Sturrus Center, with tip-off scheduled for 7:00 PM.
