DC unable to climb out of early hole at Aquinas

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - A tone-setting start by the Aquinas Saints led to a 79-52 loss for the Defiance Yellow Jackets in Sunday's WHAC women's basketball action at the Sturrus Center.

The Yellow Jackets (3-13, 0-10 WHAC) suffered their ninth straight loss while the Saints (9-6, 7-3 WHAC) posted their fourth straight win.

Aquinas built a 12-0 lead by making five of their first 6 shots. DC went on to climb back within four thanks to triples by Shaunie Little and Ali Mowen, but the Saints closed the quarter on a 6-0 run. Aquians went on to open up a 20-point lead by halftime, and they outscored Defiance 23-9 in the third quarter by crashing the boards on offensive struggles by the Yellow Jackets. Defiance won the fourth quarter, 18-11, but not before the deficit grew to 38 early in the period.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Defiance posted a second straight game over 50 points and 30 percent shooting, but were out-muscled on the boards 51-35.
• While hitting 5 3-pointers compared to Aquinas' 3, Defiance had just 7 attempts at the free throw line compared to 25 by the Saints.
• Shaunie Little scored her fifth straight game in double figures and scored a game-high 18 points.
• Ali Mowen knocked down a pair of 3-pointers and had 10 points and 4 assists. It was the senior's third game scoring double figures this season.
• Morgan Crowe was the Jackets' top rebounder with 6, pacing the Yellow Jackets on the boards in 4 of the last 5 games.

UP NEXT
Defiance heads to Cleary on Wednesday to face the Cougars at Gannon Gymnasium in Lansing at 5:30 p.m.

-JACKETS-