Grand Rapids, Mich. – AQ returned to action this afternoon (Jan. 20) to take on one of the top teams in the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference, (RV) Siena Heights. The battle of the Saints was a low-scoring matchup that resulted in a 67-46 victory for the Saints from across the state. 
 
Aquinas falls to 8-10 on the season with a 5-7 conference record. Siena Heights' great season continues, improving to 16-2 with an 11-1 WHAC record. 
 
Siena Heights 67, Aquinas 46 
 
The game started slow with the two sides combining for 21 points in the first quarter. Alona Blackwell scored six of Aquinas' eight points in the first quarter. A handful of threes from Siena Heights had the visitors ahead 13-8 at the intermission. 
 
The low-scoring battle continued into the second quarter, but Siena Heights began to break away. A three and a layup from SHU gave them a double-digit lead with 4:40 left in the half. The visitors strung together a few more points to elevate its lead to 15 with the clock winding down. Claire Gregwer converted a much-needed three with less than one minute left to cut the deficit to just 10. SHU responded with a jumper in the key to end the half ahead 29-17. 
 
SHU continued its momentum into the second half and grew its lead to as many as 22 points with just over three minutes to go in the third quarter. Ashlyn Wilkes, Blackwell, and Gregwer combined for seven points over the last few possessions to get some points back, but Siena led 49-33 at the end of the frame. 
 
The final quarter started slow, but a Blackwell layup and another three from Gregwer reduced the deficit to just 11 points. Gillian Gelso from SHU responded with an immediate three of her own to stop the building momentum for AQ. 
 
Siena Heights rebuilt its lead back to 19 with just over 3:30 to play. Neither side converted many more buckets as the clock wound down to a 67-46 victory for SHU. 
 
By the Numbers
 
The story of this game was the battle in the trenches. Both sides struggled from the field as SHU shot 30.6% and AQ shot 27.1%. However, the visitors grabbed 58 boards to Aquinas' 34. SHU picked up 25 boards while AQ had seven. 
 
Siena also led in bench points (10-2), points in the paint (20-12), and second-chance points (23-5). Aquinas played well defensively, swatting away seven shots to SHU's two. 
 
Blackwell was her dominant self, scoring half of Aquinas' points (23). She shot 6-17 from the field and scored 11 of her 13 free throws. She also had five boards, two assists, and three steals.
 
Gregwer scored 11 points with nine points coming from beyond the arc. She padded her stat line with six rebounds and a pair of blocks.
 
Up Next
 
Aquinas wraps up its three-game homestand next Wednesday (Jan. 24) against Rochester. The match is set to tip off at 5:30 p.m.