(Ann Arbor, MI) – Concordia women's basketball hosted Aquinas on Saturday afternoon in Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference play.  The Cardinals entered the tilt 14-9 overall (10-4 WHAC) while the Saints came in 13-12 (8-7 WHAC).  The contest was a low-scoring defensive battle, but CUAA was able to grind out a 45-40 win.

Taylor Leatherman led the team with 12 points.  Julia Hirt finished second with 8 points.  Alize Tripp was third with 7 points.  Keirslynn Lawless led the team with 10 rebounds along with 3 points.

Taylor Leatherman opened the scoring with a layup.  The Cardinals jumped out to a 9-2 lead after a basket from Stephanie Abraham and two free throws from Julia Hirt.  However, Aquinas clamped down defensively and came back to tie the contest 9-9 after the first quarter.

Taylor Leatherman put the Cardinals back ahead with two free throws.  Mackenzie Howe scored inside as well, but the Saints used a 6-0 run to take a 15-13 lead.  Julia Hirt started a 6-0 run in response with Taylor Leatherman adding a jumper and Asaria Turman scoring in the paint.  A drive-by Alize Tripp with 5 seconds left put CUAA up 21-19 at halftime.

Keirslynn Lawless started the third quarter with a layup.  Izzy Viau also made a layup and Julia Hirt scored on an offensive putback.  Viau added another basket, but despite two free throws from Taylor Leatherman CUAA trailed 33-31 after the third quarter.

Taylor Leatherman had a layup for Concordia's first fourth-quarter basket.  Samantha Dorn got on the board with 3 free throws as the lead continued to change hands.  Julia Hirt knocked down a jumper and Alize Tripp drained the team's first triple of the game.  Free throws from Samantha Dorn and Alize Tripp down the stretch combined with good defense to lift CUAA to a 45-40 victory.

Concordia will now travel to rival Siena Heights this Monday, February 7 at 6 pm.