Grand Rapids, Mich. — The Aquinas women's basketball team got a treat and weren't tricked on Halloween (Oct. 31) with a 61-55 season-opening win over Governors State inside the Sturrus Center. The Saints (1-0) had three players finish in double figures — Mauriya Barnes (14 points), Isabel Reemsnyder (12) and JaKarri Alven (10) — to scare off the Jaguars (0-1).

A back-and-forth first half featured 10 lead changes. Watching the fast-paced action go up-and-down the court, both coaches weren't hesitant to go to their benches early and often to keep the energy high. Each team used 11 players in the game to get a feel for their respective squads in both their season openers.

GSU's Tabetha Jones scored nine of the Jaguars' 15 points in the first half. AQ's Emily Cline was the first go-to scorer for the Saints, scoring a team-high six points in the first 10 minutes. However, both of the leading scorers in the first frame didn't score in the second quarter. 

Aquinas led 16-15 after one and built up to their largest lead of five at 30-25 going into halftime on a runner in the lane made by Jenna Daschke with two second remaining in the first half.

Both teams were ice cold behind the arc in the first 20 minutes with each team shooting 0-for-6 on 3-pointers. Eliza Brown made the first triple of the game with 2:24 left in the third quarter to give the Saints a 39-31 lead. She made one more midway through the fourth quarter to keep the Jaguars from getting too close in the final minutes.
 
GSU never got within five points despite going 3-for-6 from deep in the final quarter.

The Jaguars were led in scoring by Jones, who finished with a game-high 24 points on 9-for-22 shooting. 

AQ won the rebound battle (49-29) and shot a touch better at 37.3% compared to GSU's 36.7%.

Doing the dirty work inside, AQ's Alexis Thomas finished with an unique stat line of 12 rebounds, four assists and no points. Alven needed two more rebounds to finish with a double-double.

The Saints have now won their season-opener over Governors State two seasons in a row.

Following an exhibition road game on Thursday (Nov. 3) against Western Michigan, the Saints return home to play Great Lakes Christian on Friday (Nov. 4) inside the Sturrus Center. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m.