Dearborn, MI - Baskets were hard to come by Saturday afternoon in the women's basketball game against the Aquinas College Saints. Both teams played an aggressive defense which created many turnovers and many contested shots. The result was both teams shooting under 37% for the game, but more importantly a 62-57 win for the Wolves. Michigan-Dearborn (6-13, 5-8) shot 36% for the game, but created 24 turnovers. Aquinas (9-10, 5-8) outrebounded the Wolves 50-36, but shot just 57% on free throws, which proved to be costly.
The Wolves were led by junior guard Danielle Cowart. Cowart's three-point basket to end the first half gave the Wolves a 29-21 lead. That basket gave Cowart 11 points in the first half, while senior guard Kelly DeFauw added 9 points in the half. The Saints shot just 30% in the first half and made only one of seven free throws attempted.
Michigan-Dearborn came out strong in the second half. Cowart and DeFauw continued their scoring ways helping to build a 12 point lead just a minute and half into the second half. Aquinas would come back strong. After falling behind by 12 points, the Saints went on a 14-3 run to pull within one point at 36-35. The end of that run sparked a 9-0 run by the Wolves. While not shooting the ball well from the field, the Wolves continued to drive to the basket and draw fouls. During the 9-0 run, only four of those points were scored on field goals and both of those were by junior Senneca Scott. Again the Saints would make a run and this time they would take the lead. A three-point basket by Aquinas guard Allison Heberlein gave the Saints a 51-49 lead with 4:34 remaining in the game. The lead would grow to three points and then a free throw by Cowart and a two-point field goal by junior Chelsea Davis tied the game at 54 with just over two minutes remaining. The Wolves would reclaim the lead on junior Ashley Thomas' free throws, and Michigan-Dearborn would never trail again. Clutch free throw shooting down the stretch gave the Wolves a 62-57 win.
Cowart led the Wolves with 18 points and 8 rebounds, while DeFauw ended up with 14 points. The Wolves will next host the Indiana Tech Warriors on Wednesday, January 23 at 5:30pm.