Box Score Grand Rapids, Mich. — There's nothing better in sports than an old-fashioned rivalry game. Records don't matter; the intensity does. These games often come down to the final moments, and Wednesday night was no exception as Aquinas hosted Cornerstone. Despite a valiant effort by the Saints, Cornerstone's hot shooting paved the way for a 78-72 victory.
Cornerstone 78, Aquinas 72
The Saints battled until the final buzzer. With 1:52 left on the clock, Jadakiss Lewis knocked down a clutch three-pointer—part of his game-high 25 points—to bring Aquinas within four. However, Cornerstone's efficient offense proved too much, as the Golden Eagles shot 53.2% from the field and dominated the boards, out rebounding AQ 41-33.
A key moment came just before halftime when Jack Joldersma swiped a steal and drilled a desperation three-pointer at the buzzer, sending Cornerstone into the locker room with a 38-32 lead.
The Saints found success at the free throw line, shooting an impressive 12-of-13 as a team. Devon Boyd was perfect, going 4-for-4 at the stripe and finishing with 10 points. On the boards, Caden Pokorzynski continued to show his grit with 13 rebounds but was limited offensively, contributing just two points. Despite the loss, AQ showcased balanced scoring, with nine players finding the basket and six scoring at least six points.
After the game, Coach Ryan Bertoia reflected on the performance and the lessons moving forward, "We didn't defend well enough—not enough details on the defensive game plan were executed. We need to emphasize and make it clearer to our guys how we want to defend. We played hard, we competed, and we battled, but we can't allow a team to shoot 50% from the field. Offensively, we need the ball to move more, the players to move more. It doesn't have to be one person; we just need to find a way to get easier buckets."
The loss drops the Saints to 10-9 overall and 6-6 in WHAC play.
By the Numbers
Up Next
The Saints hit the road on Saturday for a WHAC Conference match-up against Rochester Christian. Tip-off is scheduled for 3:00 PM or 30 minutes after the conclusion of the women's game.
