Grand Rapids, Mich. – The Aquinas Saints women's basketball team continued their early-season schedule with a tough matchup against Saint Xavier on Sunday (Nov. 17) inside the Sturrus Center. Coming off their first win of the season against Goshen, the Saints faced a challenging start, trailing by 17 points at halftime. However, Aquinas showed resilience with a 19-3 run in the third quarter, closing the gap significantly. Despite their efforts in a tightly contested fourth quarter, the Saints fell short, with the Cougars holding on for a 68-66 victory. Claire Gregwer led the charge for the Saints, posting a season-high 27 points.

With the loss, Aquinas moves to 1-4 on the season, while Saint Xavier improves to 3-3.

Saint Xavier 68, Aquinas 66

Saint Xavier struck first, quickly building an early lead in the first quarter. The Saints struggled to find their rhythm and faced an 11-point deficit before Brynn Reams secured the first bucket for Aquinas. The remainder of the quarter saw a few more baskets from Gregwer, but the Saints still trailed 19-8 at the end of the period.

The second quarter started with more promise for the Saints. Reams added two layups and a free throw to bring the Saints within striking distance. However, Saint Xavier answered with a strong offensive showing, scoring 21 points in the quarter. By halftime, the Cougars led 40-23.

Aquinas came out of the break with renewed energy, launching a remarkable comeback in the third quarter. Shots from Reams, Gregwer, and Ashlyn Wilkes, along with timely three-pointers from Gregwer and Wilkes, ignited a 19-3 run that brought the Saints level at 40-40. However, Saint Xavier responded with a couple of baskets, taking a 53-45 lead into the final period.

The fourth quarter had fans on the edge of their seats as the Saints mounted a final push. Isabel Reemsnyder contributed key points, and Aquinas closed the gap to just one point in the final minute. Gregwer and Paige Guernsey hit critical shots, and a foul on Gregwer's attempt allowed the Saints to convert a free throw. Despite a couple of missed free throws by the Cougars, Aquinas' last-ditch effort fell short with 10 seconds remaining, leaving the Saints down by two as the game ended with a final score of 68-66 in favor of Saint Xavier.

Aquinas outshot Saint Xavier in all areas, finishing the game with 44.3% shooting from the field, 33.3% from beyond the arc, and 71.4% from the free-throw line. The Saints earned 36 points in the paint and 16 points off turnovers.

By the Numbers

• Gregwer led the Saints with a career-high 27 points.
• The Saints recorded one block and five steals in the game.
• Wilkes added 13 points, contributing significantly to the team's offense.
• Gregwer and Guernsey pulled down 9 and 7 rebounds, respectively, giving Aquinas additional opportunities.

Up Next

The Saints will begin conference play on Wednesday (Nov. 20) at Siena. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:00 PM.