The Aquinas women's basketball team ends up on the losing end of the defensive battle against Grand Valley State on Friday evening (Dec. 17) in Allendale, Michigan. With the Saints leading after one quarter of play, the Lakers won the second quarter by eight and did not look back by defeating the Saints 50-38.

Aquinas' overall record now stands at 9-8 on the season, while Grand Valley State, an NCAA DII school out of the GLIAC, improves its record to 9-1 on the season.

The Saints held the Lakers to single digits in the first quarter as Eliza Brown hit a three-point basket with five seconds left to give AQ the 10-9 lead at the end of the quarter. It was GVSU's turn to clamp down defensively in the second quarter, holding the Saints to eight points and taking a 25-18 lead into the break.

After the Laker lead grew to 11 in the third quarter, AQ went on a 7-2 run to end the quarter and cut the deficit to six. That is as close as the comeback got as GVSU won the final quarter and took the 12-point win.

Marissa Brady now has 10 double-doubles in her 15 games played this season after finishing with 14 points and 10 boards. Brady and Mauriya Barnes combined to score 25 of the team's 38 points as Barnes scored 11 points off the bench, while also dishing out a team-high three assists. Brown (6), Brighton Miller (5), and JaKarri Alven (2) scored the remaining 13 points for the Saints as Miller also grabbed seven rebounds.

Neither team shot above 30% from the field in the defensive battle as a combined 33 baskets were made with only five coming from downtown. Aquinas was outrebounded by Grand Valley 49-38, while GVSU also had more assists (11-10), blocks (9-2), and steals (10-4). The Saints created 14 turnovers and gave up possession 19 times themselves.

Aquinas will return to play Rochester on Wednesday (Jan. 5) after the winter break. The game will be in Rochester Hills, Michigan with tip-off scheduled for 5:00 PM.