Alma, Mich. - The Alma College women's basketball team fell to Aquinas College by a 65-69 margin on Saturday (Dec. 10) in non-conference action at Art Smith Arena. The Scots (0-6 overall) kept the game within one possession until the final seconds, as Aquinas (8-4) sealed the game from the free throw line. 

Sophomore Madison Hill (Midland, Mich./Bullock Creek) led all scorers with a career-high 19 points and hit a trio of three-pointers, while junior Madeline Barnauskas (Livonia, Mich./Dearborn Divine Child) tallied 15 points on 7-for-11 shooting. Freshman Emily Eldridge (Battle Creek, Mich./Lakeview) pulled down a game-high seven rebounds as the Scots out-rebounded the Saints by a 34-25 margin.

Aquinas was led by Bri Spica's 15 points, while Michaela Faber scored 13 points. Hannah Brefeld came off the bench to score 10 points. 

The Scots made a season-high 50 percent of their shots during the contest and over 45 percent of their three-point attempts, a season-best when the team has taken at least 10 shots from deep.

How It Happened

• In the first quarter, Aquinas opened up a five-point lead with two minutes to play in the stanza, thanks to an 8-0 run after the Scots had taken a three-point lead. Alma tied the game up at 15, but the Saints hit a pair of threes to regain a six-point advantage. Madison Hill hit a shot at the buzzer to cut the deficit to four points and make the score 21-17 after 10 minutes.
• Aquinas built up a seven-point lead in the second quarter, but the Scots climbed back after an 8-2 run, with six points coming from Madeline Barnauskas, and went into the halftime break trailing 32-29. 
• In the third quarter, the Scots overcame an eight-point deficit to gain the lead. Down 44-37 with 3:56 to play, Alma put together an 11-2 run to end the frame and take a 48-46 lead. 
• Aquinas opened the final frame with a 9-2 run to take a five-point lead and never looked back, holding off the Scots to capture the win. Alma kept the game within one possession down the stretch, but a late three-pointer by the Saints, followed by a free throw with 13 seconds left, put the game away.

Up Next

Alma will play its first road game since November 19, traveling to South Bend, Ind., to Face Saint Mary's College on Saturday, Dec. 16. Tip-off between the Scots and Belles is scheduled for 3 p.m. on the campus of Indiana University-South Bend. 

Contact: Zach Russo, Assistant Sports Information Director