Southfield, Mich. — In the WHAC, there are no breathers. Every possession matters, every road trip is a test, and every opponent is capable of knocking you off stride. For Head Coach Brian Morris and his surging Saints — winners of six straight entering Wednesday night — the message has been clear: if you want to climb the standings, you earn it every night. With a chance to extend the streak to seven and inch closer to the No. 2 spot in the conference, Aquinas delivered another poised and complete performance.
Aquinas 71, Lawrence Tech 57
Aquinas set the tone early, shooting nearly 50 percent in the opening quarter and taking a 21–19 lead behind strong interior play from Isabel Reemsnyder and steady floor control from Paige Guernsey. Rhema Dozier knocked down an early triple, while Hope Kanouse added another from deep to help stretch the defense. The Saints continued to share the ball effectively, finishing the night with 20 assists, a reflection of their balanced offensive rhythm.
In the second quarter, Aquinas maintained its composure despite Lawrence Tech's perimeter shooting. Emily Cline was active defensively and efficient offensively, finishing through contact and knocking down a key three-pointer. Brynn Reams provided a lift off the bench with a triple of her own, and Guernsey continued to orchestrate the offense with precision passing and timely rebounds. The Saints carried a 38–34 advantage into halftime.
The third quarter proved to be the decisive stretch. Lawrence Tech battled back and pulled within one point with 2:35 remaining in the period, threatening to swing momentum. But the turning point came moments later when Hannah Gillette stepped into a clutch triple that halted the Blue Devils' surge and re-established control. From that moment forward, Aquinas never looked back. The Saints closed the quarter on a strong run, fueled by defensive stops and transition opportunities.
Reemsnyder was dominant throughout, finishing with 25 points on an efficient 10-of-15 shooting night while adding key rebounds and finishing plays in traffic. Dozier added 12 points, including three makes from beyond the arc, and Cline chipped in 11 points while anchoring the defensive effort. Guernsey once again flirted with a triple-double, contributing 10 points, 10 assists, eight rebounds, and three steals in a stat sheet-stuffing performance.
In the fourth quarter, Aquinas methodically pulled away. Dozier hit another timely three, Reemsnyder continued to finish inside, and the Saints' defense held Lawrence Tech to just 23 percent shooting in the final frame. Aquinas dominated in the paint with 36 points and limited second-chance opportunities on the other end. Contributions from the bench, including Gillette's spark and Reams' steady minutes, helped the Saints close strong.
With a 71–57 victory, Aquinas extended its winning streak to seven games and strengthened its position in the WHAC race. Postgame, the Saints were doing some (though they would deny it in a court of law) scoreboard checking and found that, with Indiana Tech's win over Lourdes, AQ has moved into a second-place tie. The win improves the Saints to 17-7 overall 15-4 in the WHAC, with the Blue Devils now 6-18, 5-14 in conference play.
Inside the Numbers
• Aquinas shot 44 percent from the floor and 83 percent from the free-throw line.
• Paige Guernsey again just missed a triple-double with 10 points, 10 assists, eight rebounds, and three steals.
• The Saints recorded 20 assists on 27 made field goals, showcasing balanced ball movement.
• Hannah Gillette provided a crucial spark off the bench with five points, four rebounds, and key defensive plays — including the momentum-shifting third-quarter triple.
• Aquinas outscored Lawrence Tech 36–18 in the paint.
Coach's Comments
After the game, Head Coach Brian Morris reflected on his team's growth and the road ahead:
"This group is learning how to win in different ways. Early in the year, maybe we don't respond when they cut it to one. Tonight, we stayed poised, hit some big shots, and then locked in defensively. That's maturity. But we're not satisfied. The league doesn't give you anything — you have to take it. We'll enjoy this one tonight and then get right back to work because the next one is just as big."
Up Next
Aquinas will look to stay hot and lengthen the winning streak when they finish off the WHAC road trip with a stop in Adrian, Mich., on Valentine's Day. This will be the final regular season Saints vs. Saints match-up, as Siena Heights will be closing at the completion of this school year. The game is set for a 1:00 p.m. start.
Be sure to visit AQSaints.com for live stats, streaming links, and full post-game coverage.
