GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – A strong inside presence combined with timely outside shooting helped propel the Indiana Tech women's basketball team to a 72-57 Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference win over Aquinas at the Sturrus Sports & Fitness Center on Saturday afternoon.

After winning the tip the Warriors (7-7, 6-2 WHAC) got off to a fast start with back-to-back three-pointers from Jessica Silva and Baylee Rinehart with the latter following with a jumper and the former knocking down another three to make it 11-0 Tech. Shallante Clements sank a free throw to push the run to 12 unanswered. The Saints (4-10, 3-4 WHAC) finally got on the board, but the Orange and Black kept them at bay, increasing the lead to 14 on a Linsey Masnari jumper with 9:41 to play in the half. A 17-7 run by the Saints cut the lead to four, but Masnari sank a basket just before the half for the 32-26 margin at the break.

Much like the first half, the Orange and Black couldn't miss early on, opening on a 9-0 run to push the lead back to double digits at 15. A quick run by Aquinas cut the lead back to nine, but the Warriors didn't let up, scoring 13 of the next 16 points to push the lead to a game-high 19 points, 54-35. The home team kept battling but never got closer than 11 the rest of the way as Tech improved to .500 with the 72-57 win.

The Warriors finished the contest 26-for-59 (44.1%) from the field, 8-for-17 (47.1%) from long range and 12-for-15 (80%) from the charity stripe while limiting the Saints to just 34.4 percent (21-for-61) shooting and a 4-for-20 (20%) mark from behind the arc.

Masnari led the way with a game-high 19 points and team-high nine rebounds while Rinehart and Clements each tallied 16 points with the latter adding six rebounds. Rayana Villalpando tallied a game-high five assists and Clements had three steals in the contest.

The Warriors return to action on Friday, Dec. 19 for a non-conference battle with No. 17 Marian University in Indianapolis, Ind. Tip is scheduled for 7 p.m.

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