Ann Arbor, Mich. – The Aquinas women's basketball team earned a hard-fought 68-60 road victory over Concordia in tonight's (Nov. 26) match-up. After a closely contested first half, the Saints gained momentum in the third and fourth quarters to secure the win. Claire Gregwer led the charge, with strong support from Ashlyn Wilkes, as the Saints improved their overall record to 3-5 and conference record to 2-1.  

Aquinas 68, Concordia 60

The Saints struck first as Claire Gregwer took charge, sinking a jump shot to open the scoring. Ashlyn Wilkes followed with a layup and a free throw, putting AQ ahead 5-2. Brynn Reams showcased her defensive abilities with a block and key rebounds, setting the stage for another Wilkes layup to extend the lead to 7-2. Paige Guernsey added a late layup near the end of the first quarter, and Gregwer sealed the period with a layup to give the Saints a narrow 14-13 advantage.

Concordia seized momentum early in the second quarter with a layup just 30 seconds in to take a one-point lead. Wilkes and Gregwer responded quickly to put the Saints back on top, but the Cardinals battled back, tying the game at 21-21. Avery DePagter and Emily Cline knocked down timely jump shots to keep AQ in the fight, but Concordia gradually built a lead. The teams traded baskets in a tightly contested finish to the quarter, with the Cardinals holding a 34-29 edge at halftime.

Aquinas came out strong in the third quarter, ignited by Guernsey's and-one play and a quick shot from Leah French to close the gap to 39-37. Gregwer put the Saints back in front with a pair of free throws, but Concordia responded with a series of layups to rebuild a five-point lead at 46-41. The Saints then found their rhythm from beyond the arc, with French sinking a 3-pointer to halt a Cardinals run, followed by Gregwer's three-pointer to reclaim the lead. Avery DePagter capped off the shooting spree with a deep shot to push AQ ahead 50-48. Despite a late three from Concordia, the Saints entered the final quarter trailing by just one point, 53-52.

The fourth quarter saw the Saints dominate the boards and seize control of the game. Isabel Reemsnyder sparked the offense with an early layup, followed by two scoreless minutes of intense defensive play from both teams. Gregwer broke the deadlock with two quick layups and added three more buckets, extending the Saints' lead to 58-53. Wilkes and Guernsey sealed the victory with clutch free throws, securing a hard-earned 68-60 win. Aquinas wrapped up the game shooting 40.7% from the field, 18.2% from three-point range, and 76.2% from the free-throw line.

By the Numbers

• Gregwer led the team with 24 points earning another double-double.

• Wilkes added 14 points and got her hands on three steals. 

• The Saints recorded 7 steals and 40 rebounds.

• Gregwer grabbed ten rebounds, and Wilkes had six, providing key second-chance opportunities.

Up Next

The Saints will return home for their next conference game of the season on Wednesday (Dec. 4). Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 PM.