LATE SECOND HALF RUN BY AQUINAS DOWNS RCU AT HOME

ROCHESTER HILLS, Mich. - A valiant effort by the Warriors came up short in the final quarter, with the visiting Aquinas Saints defeating RCU 80-68. Both teams couldn't create much separation for three quarters thanks to brilliant two-way play. However, hot shooting by the Saints in the final period led to RCU's demise. Ashley Loon led the Warriors in scoring with 18 points, followed by Demi Rodriguez with 14. 

THE RUNDOWN

FIRST HALF

The first quarter was filled with great playmaking by both teams, beginning with a three from Loon off a pass by Jacey Somers. Loon struck again two possessions later with a deep three to put RCU in the driver's seat. The Warriors used that hot start outside to push the ball into the paint, jumping to a 10-4 lead thanks to free throws and layups. Loon and Rodriguez kept it up from there, with Loon hitting a floater and Rodriguez knocking down a deep three as the shot clock expired. Aquinas started to climb back into the game with some made threes, eventually taking the lead heading into the second quarter. 

The energy in the arena only grew from there, with RCU using the press to force multiple Aquinas turnovers. Once the game got to 29-24 AQ, scoring ground to a halt for a few minutes, with neither team giving up an inch of space. Somers hit a turnaround pullup off an offensive rebound to break the ice, setting up RCU for a 6-0 run that was capped off by a transition layup from Tambre Williams. Williams gave the Warriors strong minutes to end the quarter, finding two assists to help RCU enter halftime tied with Aquinas, 34-34. 

SECOND HALF

The Warriors kept up the momentum to begin the third quarter, beginning with a tip-in by Grace Lodes to set the tone inside. After the Saints took the lead 39-36, Somers knocked down a three on the left wing to tie the game, starting a big quarter from the forward. With six minutes to go in the period, Somers would block a layup before scoring on an and-one on the other end to give RCU the lead. The Saints regained the lead shortly after by getting to the foul line, but big shots from Loon and Rodriguez helped prevent the Saints from getting too far ahead going into the fourth. 

The fourth quarter saw the teams trade big shots for the first five minutes, with Rodriguez hitting a three to answer an early three by the Saints. After Aquinas followed up with another three, the Warriors rallied with two layups from Andrews and Jordan Peterson. It took three minutes for either team to score a basket following those points, with both teams struggling to hit from the free-throw line. The Saints controlled the final five minutes of action, hitting huge three after huge three to take a big lead on the Warriors and close out the game with a 12-point win. 

STAT OF THE GAME

In terms of taking care of the ball, the Warriors had one of their best games to date, committing eight to the Saints' 15. 

UP NEXT

The Warriors host the Cornerstone Golden Eagles for RCC Church Night on Wednesday, Jan. 29 at 5:30 p.m.

Hussein Murray - RCU Athletic Communications