Grand Rapids, Mich. – All good things must come to an end, and for the Aquinas women's basketball team, two impressive streaks were halted on the same night. In their regular-season finale, the Saints fell to Cornerstone 55-40, ending their 12-game winning streak. The loss also marked the end of Claire Gregwer's remarkable run of 14 consecutive double-doubles.

Cornerstone 55, Aquinas 40

Aquinas (20-8, 17-3 WHAC) started strong, leading 14-9 after the first quarter thanks to aggressive play from Ashlyn Wilkes, who went a perfect 6-for-6 from the free-throw line. However, offensive struggles soon plagued the Saints, as they shot just 22.4% (13-for-58) from the field and failed to connect on a single three-pointer (0-for-12).

Cornerstone took advantage, outscoring Aquinas 19-9 in the second quarter to take a 28-23 lead into halftime. The Golden Eagles continued their momentum after the break, holding the Saints to just eight third-quarter points and never looking back.

A turning point in the game came late in the first half when Isabel Reemsnyder was called for a questionable foul. Frustrated, she bounced the ball and was assessed a technical foul. From that moment on, the Saints never seemed to regain their composure.

Defensive Effort Not Enough

Despite their offensive woes, Aquinas remained competitive on the defensive end. Claire Gregwer led the way with eight points, 13 rebounds, four assists, three steals, and a block. Paige Guernsey added eight points and seven boards, while Wilkes contributed six points, all from the free-throw line.

The Saints forced 14 turnovers and nearly matched Cornerstone in rebounding (46-47), but the Golden Eagles found a crucial edge from beyond the arc, hitting six three-pointers (6-for-24, 25%), compared to Aquinas' 0-for-12 performance.

Despite the loss, Aquinas still secured a second-place finish in the WHAC standings and will enter the postseason as a #2 seed in the upcoming WHAC Tournament.

Coach's Take

Head Coach Brian Morris remained focused on the season's overall success rather than the disappointing finale, "Tonight's atmosphere felt like a tournament game. I'm extremely proud of our group on the defensive end. Offensively, we struggled to make shots, but our defense kept us in it until the last three minutes. Winning 18 of our last 21 and 12 straight is a testament to our team's commitment to hard work. Now, we shift our focus to the WHAC tournament. We're a little banged up right now, so this bye week couldn't have come at a better time."

By the Numbers

• Claire Gregwer: 8 points, 13 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals, 1 block
• Paige Guernsey: 8 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists
• Ashlyn Wilkes: 6 points, 3 rebounds, 2 steals
• Emily Cline: 3 points, 9 rebounds, 3 steals

Next Up

The Saints will have time to recover before opening WHAC tournament play next Wednesday, February 26, at home. As the #2 seed, Aquinas will host the winner of the 7 vs. 10 match-up at the Sturrus Sports & Fitness Center. Game time is TBD—fans can check aqsaints.com for updates later in the week.