Wynn notches double-double in loss at Aquinas

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Jourdyn Wynn notched a double-double as Defiance College traveled to Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference foe Aquinas on Saturday. However, the Jackets could not pull out a victory as the home-team Saints earned the 82-29 win at the Sturrus Sports and Fitness Center. 

Beginning with DC's first points on the day, Defiance's Jourdyn Wynn finished the contest with a team-high 10 points and 11 rebounds. This marked her first double-double in her college career. 

Aquinas (20-7, 17-2 WHAC) got a quick start, scoring early and often, with 15 unanswered points lasting until the 5:22 mark of the first quarter. A personal foul committed by the Saints top scorer Claire Gregwer sent Wynn to the line for two – knocking down both. Aquinas took off another scoring bout before Taylor Haynes dropped in a fast layup to put two more points on the board. Another chance at the line gave Haynes another chance to score. As time ran out on the first-quarter clock, the home team had a 27-5 advantage. 

In the first four minutes of the second period, Aquinas faced a scoring lull going 2-of-7. The Yellow Jackets (3-22, 1-17 WHAC) capitalized on their opponents' shortcomings in the fourth minute with a good jumper from Candyce Hollins – her first of the day. In the second half of the season, Hollins has led in scoring for DC in four contests, or tied for the lead. The Saints rode out the remainder of the half limiting Defiance to two points and neither team scored in the final two minutes. 

Alante Wright set the tone for the Yellow Jackets with a 3-pointer under two minutes into the second half. It didn't take long for Aquinas to throw one right back at the Purple and Gold, but Ali Mowen banked a three in response. The Saints and Yellow Jackets bounced back-and-forth, courtesy of four points from Wynn, though the Maroon and White topped the visitors 64-17 with one 10-minutes quarter remaining. 

The fourth and final saw 12 points from Defiance — its most of the day — averaging 16.7% shooting between the third and last quarters. LeShae Berry, who hasn't played since Nov. 23, 2024 against Lourdes due to injury, saw action in the fourth and contributed a three to lead the individual player's scoring in the quarter for the Jackets. DC never could gain control of the game and struggled to earn the momentum.  

THE TURNING POINT

Aquinas jumped out to a quick lead with 15-consecutive points and never faced a deficit. Defiance made attempts to switch the momentum and close in on the Saints, but were not successful as the conference No. 2-ranked Maroon and White never let up. 

A CLOSER LOOK

• Jourdyn Wynn notched a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds

• Wynn also shot 66.7% from the free-throw line

• Decidedly, Wynn led in the "big three" contributing two assists

• San'Taizia Thomas now has 19 blocks across the 21 games she's played in – adding two more on Saturday

• The Jackets produced nine steals to Aquinas' six

• Defiance's 6.5% shooting and seven points in the first half are the lowest in each respective category on the season

UP NEXT

The Yellow Jackets return to the Karl H. Weaner Center on Wednesday for their final home game of the season. Rochester Christian will travel to Defiance for the first time this season as the Purple and Gold will seek to sever their 10-game losing streak. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m.

-JACKETS-