A matchup of two of the top programs in the WHAC the last few seasons equated to a great game inside the Sturrus Center on Monday night (Feb. 8), as #11 Indiana Tech came to battle the Aquinas women. Despite trailing by 15 points later in the third quarter, AQ made it a one-possession game in the closing seconds, but the Warriors held on for the 58-55 victory.
With Monday's result, Indiana Tech improves to 18-1 on the year and a perfect 6-0 in WHAC play. The game was AQ's sixth in the past eight days; the Saints drop to 2-4 overall and 2-4 in league action.
Aquinas never led in the game, while Indiana Tech led 45-30 with 1:45 remaining in the third quarter. The Saints outscored IIT 21-13 over the final 10 minutes and had a final desperation three-pointer from near half-court miss its target, sealing the win for the visitors from Fort Wayne.
Indiana Tech shot 42.1 percent from the field, while Aquinas made 39.2 percent of its shots. Both defenses were also stingy from beyond the arc, as the Warriors went 4-for-14 from three-point range and AQ was 3-for-9. The Saints made 12-of-16 free throws and won the rebounding battle, 37-30.
Named WHAC Player of the Week earlier on Monday afternoon, junior center Marissa Brady continued her stellar play with her sixth consecutive double-double. Brady recorded 22 points, 15 rebounds, and five blocked shots, all of which were game-highs. She made 10-of-19 field goals and added two steals.
Brighton Miller made a pair of three-pointers and scored eight points to go with a pair of assists. Jakarri Alven totaled six points, five rebounds, four assists, and a blocked shot. Jordyn Wigg scored five points, while Daz'Sha Day and Kailee Ford each added four points.
The Warriors jumped out to an 11-2 advantage in the game's opening three minutes and led by as many as 12 points in the first quarter. A Miller jumper and a Brady layup made it 20-14 at the end of the opening period.
AQ pulled within three points in the second quarter, but Indiana Tech took a 35-26 lead to halftime. The cushion extended to 45-30 near the end of the third quarter before layups from Brady and Day started a 9-0 run that pushed into the fourth quarter.
Ford scored on a layup and Miller hit a three-pointer to make it 45-39 with 8:34 to go. Later in the quarter, back-to-back layups from Wigg and Brady brought AQ within a bucket (55-53) with 1:02 remaining. It was still 57-55 in the closing minute and the Saints had the ball, but were called for an offensive foul was called with six seconds to play.
Indiana Tech split a pair of free throws with five seconds remaining for the 58-55 lead. The Saints went the other way with the ball and attempted a running three-pointer from inside half court that glanced off the backboard, clinching the victory for Indiana Tech.
AQ returns to the court on Wednesday (Feb. 10) at 5:30 p.m. against Siena Heights inside the Sturrus Center.
