Lansing, Mich. - The 1-2 punch of Alona Blackwell and Ciara Hardy put on quite a show in the 75-59 road victory for the Aquinas women's basketball team at Cleary on Tuesday night (Nov. 28). The first-year transfers combined for a whopping 50 points and 30 rebounds and AQ used a strong 20-7 scoring advantage in the second quarter to cruise to the 16-point triumph.

Aquinas put together its second-best scoring effort of the young season, as the Saints improved to 3-4 overall and 1-2 in WHAC action. Cleary remains winless at 0-6 on the year and 0-3 in conference games.

Blackwell and Hardy combined for 53 points on Nov. 4 in a tough 68-65 loss at Governors State. The duo nearly equaled that scoring effort on Tuesday night, but accomplished the feat in an AQ victory. 

The fifth-leading scorer in the NAIA prior to the game (with a 24.2 points per game average), Blackwell improved upon that average by totaling 29 points and grabbing 12 rebounds. It was her sixth 20-point scoring game of the year and her first double-double as a Saint. She shot 9-of-19 from the field and 9-of-10 at the charity stripe. Blackwell added three assists and two blocks.

Hardy also notched her first double-double of the season, scoring 21 points on 9-of-16 shooting from the field. She was outstanding on the glass, pulling down a season-best 18 rebounds - seven of which came on the offensive glass. Hardy dished out four assists and hit all three free throw attempts. 

In addition to Blackwell and Hardy's performances, the Saints' incredible 59-20 rebounding advantage was another major storyline. Ashlyn Wilkes, Alexis Thomas, and Brynn Reams all grabbed six rebounds each to go along with the 30 boards from Blackwell and Hardy. AQ totaled more offensive rebounds (21) than Cleary's total rebounds (20). 

A jumper from Maddie Sermak in the final 20 seconds of the first quarter tied the game at 11-11. Blackwell scored eight first quarter points for the Saints. The second quarter is where the game turned in AQ's favor, as the Saints scored 20 of the final 24 points after Cleary held a 14-11 edge.

Aquinas trailed 18-15 when a Sermak free throw at the 5:36 mark began a game-changing 16-0 run. Hardy provided seven points and six rebounds in just the second quarter, Abi Tarrant hit a three-pointer, and Reams closed the quarter with a pair of jumpers to give the Saints the 31-18 halftime cushion. 

The third quarter featured a whopping 55 points, with Cleary outscoring AQ by a 28-27 advantage. A jumper from Hannah Outlaw provided the game-high 22-point lead at 50-28 with 4:29 remaining. Blackwell poured in 14 points in the third quarter alone, knocking down a pair of triples and making 6-of-7 free throws.

It was Hardy's turn again in the fourth quarter, as she totaled 10 points and six rebounds in the frame, as Cleary was unable to get closer than 11 points in the final frame.

Aquinas shot 41.8 percent from the field and went 15-of-21 at the charity stripe. Cleary struggled to the tune of 27.1 percent shooting and just 7-of-31 from three-point range. 

Reams added six points to her six rebounds and two rejections. Wilkes chipped in five points and Tarrant scored four points. 

The Saints return home from their three-game road trip to host (RV) Indiana Tech at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday (Dec. 2) in the Sturrus Center.