Grand Rapids, Mich. – On a day when Aquinas celebrated National Girls & Women in Sports Day, the Saints women's basketball team fed off the energy, securing a hard-fought 55-47 victory over Concordia. The win extends AQ's impressive streak to nine games.

Aquinas 55, Concordia 47

The Saints faced early struggles, as Concordia dominated the offensive glass in the first quarter, pulling down five offensive rebounds to take a 14-11 lead.

Midway through the second quarter, AQ tightened up defensively and capitalized on transition opportunities, taking a 29-26 lead into halftime.

Defensively, Aquinas held Concordia to just 27.7% shooting from the field and 18.5% from three-point range. Offensively, AQ shot 38% and hit four three-pointers on 16 attempts. The Saints also edged Concordia on the boards, 40-39.

Six different AQ players contributed four or more points. Claire Gregwer posted yet another dominant performance, recording her 11th consecutive double-double with a team-high 14 points and 17 rebounds. Paige Guernsey filled the stat sheet with 10 points, four rebounds, four assists, and four steals, while Isabel Reemsnyder also added 10 points. Senior Ashlyn Wilkes, despite battling an early-game injury, contributed nine points and seven rebounds. However, the most well-rounded performance of the night belonged to Emily Cline, who finished with eight points, nine rebounds, three assists, and two blocks.

Bench contributions were minimal for both teams, as Concordia's reserves tallied seven points, while Aquinas' bench added four.

The game saw all of its lead changes in the first half, with three ties and four shifts in momentum. AQ took the lead for good when Gregwer converted a layup with 43 seconds left in the second quarter, putting the Saints up by one. A Guernsey layup before halftime extended the lead to 29-26, and AQ never trailed again.

The win improves Aquinas to 17-7 overall and 14-2 in the WHAC, alone in second place, one game behind Indiana Tech and two games ahead of Lourdes.

Coach's Thoughts

Head Coach Brian Morris reflected on the team's gritty performance, "It doesn't get any easier—we're going to be battle-tested the rest of the way. We talked about increasing our toughness, finishing plays, and staying locked in defensively. We'd defend for 30 seconds, give up an offensive rebound, and have to defend another 20 seconds. That kind of mental toughness is something we have to sharpen before the tournament."

Players Recognize Coach Fisher

As part of the Women in Sports Day celebration, Aquinas honored Claudette Charney and all AQ female coaches and athletic administrators. However, the Saints players wanted to make sure their own assistant coach, Stephanie Fisher, also received recognition. Between the third and fourth quarters, Coach Fisher was individually honored with a standing ovation.

Coach Morris shared his appreciation for the team's initiative, "It's a testament to our kids and the respect they have for Fish (Coach Fisher). Assistant coaches do so much behind the scenes, and their contributions often go unnoticed. This was another example of the family atmosphere we preach in our program."

By the Numbers

• Claire Gregwer: 11th straight double-double (14 points, 17 rebounds, 1 block, 1 steal)
• Paige Guernsey: 10 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 steals
• Ashlyn Wilkes: 9 points, 7 rebounds
• Emily Cline: 8 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks

Up Next

The Saints will aim for their 10th straight victory when they host Lourdes in the first-ever Blackout Cancer Game (in partnership with UM Health-West) at the Sturrus Sports and Fitness Center. Tip-off is set for 1:00 p.m. The game is sponsored by Tropical Smoothie, and all healthcare providers will receive free admission.