Saints Fall in Holiday Tournament Opener | Schools

CLINTON, Iowa--In its first game after the Christmas holiday, the Ashford women's basketball team dropped their opening game of the St. Xavier University Holiday Tournament to the host Cougars, 82-49, on Thursday night.

Belleville, Wis.-native Quinn Rear led all Saints with 17 points, including five three-pointers, but the Saints were unable to fend off a second half offensive flurry by the #12-ranked Cougars, falling to 7-9 on the season.

Ashford came out of the gate firing from long distance, and after Madison Wagner knocked down her second of the ball game at the 10-minute mark of the opening half, AU held a 21-12 lead.  The Saints would connect from deep six times in the opening frame.

Despite trailing at the intermission, Ashford used an 8-0 run early in the second half to take a 33-32 lead, capped off by Rear's final triple of the game with 17 minutes to play.

But the lead would not last for long, as the Cougars filled the net at a 56.8% (21-for-37) clip in the second half to pull away and improve to 10-3 on the season.

Gaby Ayon and Deana Bledsoe topped the Saints with eight rebounds each.

The Saints continue play in the St. Xavier Holiday Tournament on Friday, when they meet up with the Crimson Wave of Calumet College of St. Joseph.

The two squads will tangle at 3:00 p.m.

Click HERE for box score