Aquinas made 7-of-15 three-point attempts on Saturday afternoon as outside shooting proved to be the difference as the Saints defeated Lourdes 59-45 at Tam-o-Shanter.
 
The Saints were 5-of-10 from long range in the first half, while holding the Gray Wolves to just 2-of-11 shooting from beyond the arc on the afternoon.
 
"In the first half we didn't do a good job of pressuring their shooters," head coach Karen McConnell said.  "We worked hard but needed better communication on defense."
 
Both schools played an even opening quarter, and were tied at 12 heading into the second period despite neither team scoring for the final three minutes of the stanza.  Aquinas scored seven of the first nine points of the second quarter before Lourdes battled back with a 10-2 run over six minutes, capped by a Samantha Enck (Oregon, Ohio/Clay H.S.) put back to give the Gray Wolves a 24-21 lead with 2:15 to play before halftime.  Aquinas responded with the final eight points before intermission though to take a 29-24 lead into the locker room.
 
The third period was fairly even, with neither team shooting greater than 30% from the floor, as the Saints led 40-33 heading into the final 10 minutes.  A three-pointer by Mariah DuPree (Ottawa Lake, Mich./Whiteford H.S.) pulled Lourdes to within five, 43-38, with under seven minutes remaining, before an 11-3 spurt over the next five minutes allowed Aquinas to pull away for the victory.
 
Jesse Fidler (Archbold, Ohio/Archbold H.S.) led Lourdes with 16 points and eight rebounds, but scored just four points after the break.
 
"Aquinas made some good defensive adjustments on Fidler in the second half," McConnell added.
 
Lindsey Motycka (Convoy, Ohio/Crestview H.S.) also tallied double figures, finishing with 11 points, nine of which came in the second half.  Lourdes shot just 33.9% from the floor on the afternoon and was outrebounded 38-36.
 
Bri Spica led Aquinas (6-13, 5-7 WHAC) with 15 points while McKenzie Breimayer added 10 points.  Anna Omness pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds.
 
Lourdes (5-14, 2-10) will close out its three-game homestand on Wednesday evening as the Gray Wolves entertain Indiana Tech.  Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. at Tam-o-Shanter.