Box Score Grand Rapids, Mich. – The Aquinas Saints braved the weather and a tough challenge from the Madonna Crusaders on Wednesday night, grinding out a 62-54 road victory to extend their winning streak to 11 games. With the win, Junior Claire Gregwer, who has won back-to-back WHAC Player of the Week honors, added another double-double, for thirteen straight games.
Saints Pull Away Late
Madonna kept pace with AQ, tying the game at 47 with nine minutes remaining. However, following a timeout by Head Coach Brian Morris, the Saints responded with a decisive 12-1 run. During that stretch, Aquinas' defense held the Crusaders scoreless for over four minutes, with Claire Gregwer's clutch three-pointer serving as the go-ahead basket. From there, the Saints controlled the final minutes to close out the win.
At halftime, Aquinas led 30-24, shooting 10-of-27 from the field compared to Madonna's 10-of-33. Free throws proved crucial down the stretch—while Madonna was a perfect 10-for-10 through three quarters, they faltered in the fourth (3-of-6) as the game remained in doubt. Meanwhile, AQ capitalized at the line, making 21-of-29 attempts, with Paige Guernsey (6-of-8) leading the way.
Team Effort Propels AQ
Aquinas showcased its depth and hustle, with ten players grabbing at least one rebound and eight contributing to the scoring column. The Saints dominated the boards, out-rebounding Madonna 45-31. Neither team found much success from beyond the arc—AQ finished 6-of-20 from deep, while Madonna struggled at 3-of-20.
The Saints relied heavily on their starters, who accounted for 57 of the team's 62 points. In contrast, Madonna got 15 points from its bench. With the win, Aquinas improves to 19-7 overall and 16-2 in the WHAC, remaining in sole possession of second place—just a half-game behind Indiana Tech and three games ahead of third-place Siena Heights.
Coach's Take
Head Coach Brian Morris praised his team's resilience, "Another tough road win. We started well offensively and found a way to hold on. Defensively, we're playing really well, and that's helping us make up for miscues on offense. At this point in the season, it's all about focusing on details and being the tougher team each night."
By the Numbers
Next Up
The Saints return home for Senior Day against Defiance, looking to extend their winning streak to 12 games. Tip-off is set for 1:00 p.m. at the Sturrus Sports & Fitness Center.
