Box Score Grand Rapids, Mich. — Neither rain, snow, sleet, nor the dead of night could stop Aquinas from hosting Cornerstone on Rivalry Wednesday at the Sturrus Sports & Fitness Center. In the end, the Saints emerged victorious with a thrilling 78-76 win, extending their winning streak to five games.
Aquinas 78, Cornerstone 76
The Golden Eagles opened strong with an early 5-0 lead, but the Saints quickly responded. When Claire Gregwer drained a three-pointer at the 7:24 mark in the first quarter, Aquinas took their first lead of the game, 10-7. It remained a back-and-forth battle, with the Saints narrowly holding a 26-24 edge at the end of the first quarter. Gregwer ended the contest with another double-double.
The seesaw action continued in the second quarter, featuring seven lead changes. A three-pointer from Olivia Kubik tied the game at 40 just before halftime, capping off a closely contested first half.
In the third quarter, Aquinas managed to create some separation. Back-to-back offensive plays sparked the momentum: Emily Cline scored two consecutive layups for her first four points, followed by Paige Guernsey's layup and a three-pointer. This offensive surge put Aquinas up 51-42 at the media timeout.
The final minutes were nothing short of chaotic. Cornerstone led 76-73 with just under four minutes left, but the Saints stayed resilient. Paige Guernsey gave Aquinas the lead for good with a clutch layup and a converted three-point play with 2:13 remaining, making it 78-76. The Saints' defense then locked in, forcing three turnovers and a shot clock violation in the final two minutes to secure the win.
After the game, Coach Brian Morris praised his team's effort:
"We played a complete game—other players stepped up, and it showed. Tonight, Emily Cline was a difference-maker; she battled all game long. Our kids are focused, and we continue to play one possession at a time. Look, we were picked to finish eighth, so we're playing with a chip on our shoulder and something to prove."
With the win, Aquinas improves to 13-7 overall and 10-2 in WHAC play, securing sole possession of second place in the conference, just one game out of first.
By the Numbers
Up Next
The Saints hit the road again on Saturday, traveling to face Rochester at 1:00 PM as they look to stay at the top of the WHAC leaderboard.
