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Spartans Settle for Weekend Split with 47-39 Setback at Molloy

Spartans Settle for Weekend Split with 47-39 Setback at Molloy

The St. Thomas Aquinas College women's basketball team fell to a 47-39 defeat in an East Coast Conference matchup at Molloy College. The Spartans saw their three-game win streak snapped and now stand at 4-5 overall and 4-2 in ECC play, with Molloy improving to 3-2, 3-2.

Playing their second game in as many days, both teams once again led with defense as points were at a premium in the first half. After Molloy scored the first five points, back-to-back threes from Lexi Huertas keyed an 8-0 run over the final 6:20, with STAC holding an 8-5 lead through one. The Spartans offense ran cold in the second, recording just one free throw as Molloy regained the lead at 15-9 through 20 minutes.

Katie Bischoping knocked down five straight points to close the gap to 17-16 in the third, but Gabriella Aspuru touched off a 15-0 Lions run, only ended by Huertas' last-second three-pointer to make the tally 32-19. Trailing by as many as 15 in the final frame, STAC did stage a late run to draw to 42-37 in the final minute on a Melissa Alifano jumper, but that was as close as they were to get.

Huertas was the offensive standout for STAC with 16 points and five assists, while Bischoping contributed 10 points and a team-high eight rebounds. Safiyyah Lee was a force for the hosts with game highs of 22 points and 10 rebounds.

The Spartans now have two days off before finishing the season with a frantic four games in five days, playing at Mercy on Wednesday and Thursday before traveling to Daemen for a weekend set on February 27 and 28.