Grand Rapids, Mich. - After its previous two victories came in two-point nailbiters, the Aquinas women's basketball team raced to a lopsided 82-51 win on Wednesday night (Jan. 3) inside the Sturrus Center. 11 AQ players scored in the victory, with the team's 31-point margin matching its largest win of the season.

After enjoying a 42-29 halftime cushion, the Saints blew the game open in the third quarter. Aquinas outscored UNOH 23-8 over that 10-minute stretch and eventually led by as many as 33 points in the triumph. 

AQ improves to 6-7 overall and 3-4 in conference play, while the visiting Racers drop to 4-0 on the year. UNOH is 0-7 in league action.

The Saints placed three starters in double-digits, had two players finish one rebound shy of a double-double, and recorded 22 bench points. Aquinas had three players with nine or more rebounds - including a game-high 12 boards from Ashlyn Wilkes - as the team owned a massive 57-30 rebounding advantage. The 15-4 edge on the offensive glass gave AQ a 22-4 lead in second chance points.

Alona Blackwell posted her 11th 20-plus point game of the year, finishing with a game-high 24 points on 11-for-24 shooting. She added four assists and three steals in a team-high 34 minutes. Claire Gregwer neared a double-double in just her second game as a Saint, recording 19 points and nine rebounds, five coming on the offensive glass. She made 8-of-15 shots.

Ciara Hardy was also one rebound shy of a double-double, as she notched 10 points and nine boards. Hardy made all four free throws and picked up two steals. In addition to her career-high dozen rebounds, Wilkes dished out six assists and scored five points. Both the rebounds and assists are new season-highs for Wilkes.

Blackwell and Hardy scored six points each in the first quarter, as AQ led 19-11 after the opening 10 minutes. The back-and-forth second quarter saw the Saints on top 42-29 at the intermission.

Aquinas blew the game open in the third quarter with a 23-8 scoring advantage to take a 65-37 cushion heading into the fourth. Blackwell delivered 12 points in the quarter, while Gregwer added six points in the frame. Seven different Saints scored in the fourth quarter, as AQ closed out the 31-point win. 

The Saints also won by 31 points on Nov. 7 at home against Great Lakes Christian in a 93-62 triumph. 

Brynn Reams made 4-of-5 field goals and recorded eight points and five rebounds, while Julie Mach poured in six points in just four minutes off the bench. Hannah Outlaw pulled down five boards.

AQ shot 44.6 percent from the field and held a 34-16 edge in the paint. The Saints also scored 14 of the game's 16 fast break points. UNOH shot only 26.7 percent from the field. Both teams made five three-pointers and committed 11 turnovers.

Aquinas stays in WHAC play on the road this Saturday (Jan. 6) against UM-Dearborn. Tipoff is set for 1:00 p.m. The Saints' final 16 regular season games are all in conference action.