Box Score FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The Indiana Tech women's basketball team did something that hasn't been done in seven years. They won a first round Wolverine-Hoosier Athletics Conference tournament game, defeating Aquinas, 88-75 on Thursday at the Schaefer Center.

It was a packed gym for the Warriors first home conference tournament game since 2006 and the Warriors (19-12) gave the crowd plenty to cheer about. Allison Heberlein opened the contest with a three, but Ulyssia Richmond answered right back with a three of her own. Chelsea Carradine followed with a layup to put Tech in front, but a Marisa Marx layup quickly tied the game. Carradine hit another jumper, giving the Warriors a lead they wouldn't relinquish. The Saints (21-9) got to within one on another Heberlien three, trailing 9-8. Sabine Filippovica followed with a layup, sparking a 6-0 run to push the lead to seven, 15-8 with 14:06 left. The Saints were able to cut the lead back to three, 26-23, with 7:40 left in the half, but the Warriors, led by seven points by Rachael Kruse, closed the half on a 21-11 run to take a 13-point, 47-34 lead into the break.

The Orange and Black dominated in the paint, outscoring Aquinas 24-16 inside, which helped the Warriors shoot 63.3 percent (19-30) from the field in the half. The defense also forced eight turnovers and limited the visitors to just 36.1 percent (13-for-36) from the floor. Tech was led by Carradine who scored 14 points and grabbed five rebounds while Heberlein paced the Saints with 12 points and five boards.

With momentum on their side, the Warriors took control in the second half. After another three by Heberlein cut the lead to 10, Tech used a 7-0 run to push the lead to 17, 56-39, with 16:42 to play. The Saints were able to cut the lead to 14, but another Tech run, capped by a Kruse three, pushed the lead to a game-high 21 points, 79-58. Aquinas closed the game on a 17-9 run to cut the final margin to 13 points, 88-75.

Tech finished the contest with a 40-32 edge in points in the paint and won on the glass as well, 37-36. The offense was solid for the Warriors as the team finished 55 percent (33-for-60) from the floor and 47.1 percent (8-for-17) from three while also going 14-for-19 (73.7%) from the free throw line. At the other end of the floor, the defense limited the Saints to 39.7 percent (25-for-63) shooting and 36.8 percent (7-for-19) from behind the arc while Aquinas was also 18-for-24 (75%) from the charity stripe.

Richmond finished the contest with a game-high 27 points while Carradine added 18 and Kruse tallied 16. Preonda Reese added 10 points off the bench. Carradine also grabbed 10 rebounds for her 16th double-double this season.

The Saints were led by 25 points from Heberlein who also had 10 rebounds while Marx added 12 points for Aquinas.

Much like the 2006 squad, the Warriors will travel to Grand Rapids, Mich. on Saturday, Mar. 1 to face the Panthers of Davenport University in the WHAC Semifinals. Tip is scheduled for 1 p.m.