Dearborn, Mich. – There is no question this Aquinas women's basketball team is playing some of its best basketball of the season, fueled by a true team-first mentality and an ever-growing sense of confidence. At the same time, the Saints know the margin for error in the WHAC is razor thin, and there are still details to clean up as the postseason approaches. If Aquinas can continue to build momentum while tightening those areas of concern, the Saints have positioned themselves to finish inside the top three of the conference and earn the right to host a WHAC Tournament game. But before looking ahead, the focus remained squarely on Wednesday night in Dearborn, where Aquinas leaned on its depth and balance to take care of business against UM-Dearborn.
Aquinas 82, UM-Dearborn 58
The Saints set the tone early, jumping out to a quick lead and never allowing the Wolverines to seriously threaten. Aquinas led 17–12 after the opening quarter before clamping down defensively in the second, holding UM-Dearborn to just seven points while extending the margin to 39–19 at the half. Isabel Reemsnyder provided an early spark, finishing the night with a team-high 16 points on efficient shooting, including three triples, while Rhema Dozier added 15 points and consistently pressured the Wolverines on both ends of the floor.
Aquinas continued to separate in the third quarter, outscoring UM-Dearborn 26–15 to put the game firmly out of reach. Emily Cline controlled the paint with a strong double-double effort, finishing with 10 points and a game-high 13 rebounds. Hope Kanouse chipped in 10 points of her own, attacking gaps and keeping the offense moving, while Paige Guernsey filled the stat sheet with seven points, seven rebounds, six assists, and four steals, setting the tone as the floor general.
The Saints showcased their depth throughout the second half, with Leah French providing a spark off the bench and Clemmie Gadwood, Hannah Gillette, and Brynn Reams making solid contributions during extended minutes. Lauren Meerman, Madelyn Smith, Nia Moncrief, Ellie Wrona, McKenzie Munson, MJ Mikus, and Emilynne Braue all saw action as Aquinas maintained its intensity. The Saints finished the night shooting over 51 percent from the field, knocking down 10 three-pointers, and winning the rebounding battle decisively, closing out another convincing WHAC victory.
With the win, Aquinas improved to 15–7 overall and 13–4 in WHAC play, extending its winning streak to five straight games. UM-Dearborn falls to 4–19 overall and 2–15 in the WHAC, as the Wolverines have now dropped nine consecutive contests.
Inside the Numbers
• Aquinas shot 51.9 percent from the field and 41.7 percent from three
• The Saints won the rebounding battle 42–22
• Aquinas outscored UM-Dearborn 48–22 across the second and third quarters
• The bench accounted for 24 points
• Five Saints scored seven or more points in the balanced attack
Coach's Comments
After the game, Head Coach Brian Morris emphasized the importance of staying sharp as the season reaches its most important stretch:
"We did a lot of good things tonight, and our depth really showed, but the biggest thing is understanding that every possession matters from here on out," Morris said. "We have to stay disciplined, clean up the little mistakes, and be ready to play our best basketball, because Saturday is a huge challenge and that's the standard we're chasing."
Up Next
This Saturday will be Senior Day as the Saints recognize all their graduating seniors in a marquee WHAC match-up against the Gray Wolves of Lourdes, the No. 2 team in the conference. Opening tip-off is scheduled for 1:00 PM as part of a basketball doubleheader. The game will be streamed on the AQSaints Athletic Network, with Joey Sutherlin on the call.
Be sure to visit AQSaints.com for live stats, streaming links, and complete post-game coverage.
