The Aquinas women's basketball team was at home this afternoon (Jan. 25) as they hosted the Ohio-based Lourdes Gray Wolves in a WHAC matchup. Despite a pair of Saints combining for 32 points, AQ was bested by a score of 71-61.
 
With the loss, the Saints drop to 8-13 and 4-10 in conference play, while the Gray Wolves rise to 6-15 overall, while also having a 4-10 conference record. The Gray Wolves hold the tie breaker over the Saints in conference play, due to their two wins this season against AQ.
 
The Saints struck first as Eliza Brown hit her first three of the night less than a minute into the game. Lourdes would go on a run with nine unanswered points until 4:35 when Brown would hit a jumper. This would spearhead an 8-0 run in the Saints favor. From here the two teams would finish out the quarter tied up at 13.
 
Lourdes was able to find the bottom of the net frequently in the second quarter with a 53% shooting percentage. With their strong shooting, they outscored AQ 23-16 and took a 36-29 advantage to halftime. Lourdes shot 42% in the opening 20 minutes, but the Saints stayed within striking distance thanks to five three-pointers, three of which came from Brown.

A back-and-forth third quarter saw Aquinas pull within five at 52-47 on a layup from Alexis Thomas, but the Gray Wolves would score the final four points of the third quarter and lead 56-47 heading into the final 10 minutes of play. 

In the fourth quarter, the Saints could only get as close as eight points in the final seconds off an old-fashioned three-point play from JaKarri Alven to make it 69-61. Lourdes converted a layup before the buzzer sounded for the final points of the game.

Despite the loss, Brown and Alven played well offensively, combining for 32 points on 10-of-16 shooting. Brown was 6-of-11 from the field and made 5-of-10 triple tries for 17 points, her fourth double-digit scoring game of the  season. It was one point shy of her career-high of 18 points.

Alven knocked down 7-of-9 free throws and made 4-of-5 field goals for a line of 15 points, four assists, and four boards. Emily Cline and Isabel Reemsnyder each scored seven points, with Cline adding a team-high eight  rebounds.

Thomas and Mauriya Barnes added six points each, with Thomas totaling four rebounds and two steals. The Saints shot 31% from the field, but made 14-of-19 free throws. AQ committed just eight turnovers and forced Lourdes into 16 turnovers.

The Gray Wolves shot 44% from the field and knocked down 11-of-29 three-pointers.

Saturday's non-conference home game against Grace Christian has been moved up one hour and tipoff inside the Sturrus Center is set for noon.