Aquinas College could not overcome the hot shooting of second-seeded Kansas Wesleyan University, falling 61-52 in the first round of the 18th Annual NAIA Division II Women's Basketball National Championship in Sioux City, Iowa.

Aquinas, an at-large selection to the tournament, jumped to an early 6-0 lead until Kansas Wesleyan made its first shot at the 16:23 mark. Aquinas continued to put points on the board, leading 14-7 at the 10 minute mark. An 11-2 run by the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference champion gave the Coyotes their first lead of the game. Locked at 20 all, Kansas Wesleyan went a 7-1 run and connected of five of its last 10 shots of the half before Katie Carbee scored two buckets late to pull to within two points at intermission, 27-25.

Aquinas made a run for the lead, tying the game in the second have at 35-35 with a little more than five minutes remaining. A slip in defense allowed KWU to make an 11-1 run during the last five minutes for the 61-52 victory.

Kansas Wesleyan shot 44.2% from the field and was 8-for-8 from the charity stripe as the Coyotes improved to 27-5 and advances to the second round.

Four Saints scored in double figures as Aquinas finished the season at 19-11. Logan Marsh has 12, Kaitlyn Lang scored 11, Carrie Abdo and Joslyn Narber both finished with 10 apiece. Abdo finished with seven rebounds. The Saints shot 31.5% from the field and 80% from the freethrow line.

Box Score
NAIA Release