SOUTHFIELD, Mich. -- The Lawrence Technological (Mich.) University women's basketball team defeated [RV] Aquinas (Mich.) College 76-67 on Tuesday night at Don Ridler Field House in Southfield, Mich.
Lawrence Tech (7-1, 3-0) came out early and took a 16-12 lead with 1:40 left in the first quarter before Aquinas went on a 7-0 run to end the quarter with a 19-16 lead. The Blue Devils took a 24-21 lead following a pair of free throws from Hayley Walkowski (SR/Marshall, MI) with 7:05 left in the second quarter. The Saints responded with another run, this one a 9-3 run to take a 30-27 lead on the Blue Devils with 5:35 left in the quarter.
Aquinas (5-3, 2-1) was outscored by Lawrence Tech in the final two minutes to give LTU a 35-34 lead at the break. LTU went 7-for-17 from the floor in the second quarter and grabbed 12 rebounds - five offensive - to close the half up on the Saints.
In the second half, Lawrence Tech expanded the lead to 51-41 with 4:00 minutes left in the third quarter. The Blue Devils held a 60-45 lead at the end of 30 minutes as Walkowski closed with the final five points.
The Saints trailed by 17 points to open the fourth quarter, but were able to cut the lead to one, 66-63 with 2:19 left in the game. Nicole Buckingham (JR/Saginaw, Mich.) grabbed an offensive rebound on the next possession and drew the foul to give LTU a 68-63 lead with 1:38 left in the contest. Aquinas then hit a jumper to put the game within three points, but Danielle Hanson (SO/East Lansing, Mich.) answered with a jumper of her own to put the Blue Devils back up by five, 70-65 with 1:02 left on the clock.
Aquinas' Momo Neal made the Saints last field goal with 30 seconds remaining as Lawrence Tech was able to close the game 76-67. Buckingham finished with a game high 26 points and eight rebounds while Walkowski added 17 points, eight rebounds, and three assists. Hanson added 14 points and six rebounds in the win. Michaela Faber led Aquinas with 19 points and three rebounds.
Lawrence Tech shot 41.2 percent from the field, but was 6-for-15 from the arc while Aquinas shot 38.3 percent from the field and just 5-for-22 from the beyond the three-point line. The Blue Devils finished with 10 points off 17 turnovers and had 14 second chance points in the win.
Lawrence Tech is back on the court Nov. 29 when they travel to Concordia (Mich.) University - Ann Arbor at 6 p.m. in Ann Arbor, Mich.
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