Grand Rapids, Mich. — The Aquinas women's basketball team took the court against the Madonna Crusaders Wednesday (Jan. 17). The Saints pushed forward early and maintained the difference for the entirety of the contest. AQ put an exclamation mark on the night with a 90-43 win over the Crusaders. 

Aquinas climbs to 8-9 this season with a conference record of 5-6. Madonna drops to 9-7 with a 5-6 WHAC record.

Aquinas 90, Madonna 43

AQ was off to the races straight from the jump ball. The Saints doubled the Crusaders points in the first as Aquinas put up 21 on the scoreboard while Madonna managed 10.

The Crusaders picked it up in the second and stapled 17 points to Aquinas' 19. 

Starting the third, the Saints already held a 40-27 lead. But the margin only grew as AQ put up a bolstering 30 points to Madonna's nine.

Aquinas slowed down in the fourth, but still put up 20 points while the Crusaders claimed seven. As the final horn sounded, AQ put up a staggering 90 points to Madonna's 43.

This victory is the largest point margin that Aquinas has won by since November 10th of 2015. 

This game saw career highlights from multiple players. Alona Blackwell had a career high of nine assists. Blackwell was also the leading scorer of the contest with 34, just two points shy of her career best.

This is Blackwell's fourth game scoring 30 or more points.

Ashlyn Wilkes set her career high in both points and rebounds. Wilkes was cooking on the court and shot 6-8 from the arc and 9-13 overall, giving her 25 points. She also tagged along four assists.

Brynn Reams also gets a moment in the spotlight as she also set a career high in both points and rebounds. Reams shot 5-9 and 1-2 in free throws, stamping her at 11 points. Reams showed to be a hound at the hoop and harbored 12 rebounds.

By the Numbers

AQ shot their best in field goals in both the first and third quarters with a 60% shooting rate, going 9-15 and 12-20. The Saints had their best effort with 3-pointers in the second, shooting 2-3.

Overall, AQ shot 55.4% for FG's, 52.6% in 3PT's, and 72.7% at the line.

Madonna struggled to cash in throughout the game, but had its best shooting in the second quarter. The Crusaders hit 31.58% of their field goals (6-19). MU's best showing of threes was in the first quarter, taking 2-5 for a 40% rate.

Overall MU shot 21.3% for FG's, 18.8% in 3PT's, and 83.3% for free throws.

Up Next

Aquinas will welcome Sienna Heights to the Sturrus Center on Saturday (Jan. 20) for a 1 p.m. jump ball.