The Aquinas women's basketball team fell in a tough home contest to visiting UM-Dearborn on Saturday (Jan. 29), as the Wolverines tied the game late in regulation and held on for the 73-71 overtime victory. AQ had a pair of 20-point scorers in the loss, but was unable to get the tying or go-ahead bucket in the final two minutes of overtime.
 
AQ drops to 12-12 overall and 7-7 in WHAC play, while UM-Dearborn improves to 8-15 overall and 6-9 in league action. The Saints were looking to sweep the season series after winning 70-53 over the Wolverines at Dearborn in late-November.
 
The 71 points for Aquinas were a season-high, one point better than its total against UM-Dearborn in the first meeting. Marissa Brady posted a team-high 21 points and grabbed 13 rebounds (six offensive), while adding two assists, two steals, and two blocks. Daz'Sha Day notched 20 points and six rebounds; both players logged 40 minutes in the overtime contest.
 
Eliza Brown made 4-of-9 field goals and hit a pair of three-pointers, falling one rebound shy (10 points, nine boards) of a double-double. She also recorded three blocked shots. JaKarri Alven tallied five points, five rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Jayda Smith and Jordyn Wigg each dished out three assists.
 
A high-scoring first quarter saw AQ hold a 26-21 lead after the first 10 minutes. The Saints kept a 41-36 advantage at halftime and extended that to a 57-49 edge heading into the fourth quarter. In a game which featured seven lead changes and six tie scores, the contest came down to the final minutes.
 
Trailing 64-63 with 43 seconds left, Brady scored on a short jumper in the paint and converted the old-fashioned three-point play for a 66-64 lead. UM-Dearborn tied the game at 66-66 with a layup off an out-of-bounds play for the final points of regulation, as both teams missed two field goal tries in the closing seconds.
 
The teams traded buckets in the opening few minutes of overtime, with Alven's three-point play (jumper and free throw) made it 71-70 with 1:59 remaining. UM-Dearborn converted a layup with 1:13 to go for the go-ahead bucket and split two free throws for the 73-71 edge with 29 seconds left.
 
Aquinas would miss its last field goal attempt and be unable to tie the game before the clock hit zeros. UM-Dearborn shot 41.3 percent from the field and made 14-of-21 free throws, along with seven three-pointers. AQ shot 39.7 percent overall and was 9-of-16 at the stripe. 
 
The Saints did hold a 21-8 edge in points off turnovers; each team committed 18 miscues. Aquinas also dominated in the paint to a 42-26 advantage. UM-Dearborn held a slight 44-43 edge in rebounds.
 
Four of AQ's final six games in the regular season are at home, including Monday's (Jan. 31) reschedule contest against UNOH. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m.