Queens, N.Y. - A 28-point effort by Alexa Huertas, along with all five starters scoring in double-figures helped the St. Thomas Aquinas College Women's Basketball team defeat Queens College, 86-82 in overtime on Saturday afternoon at Fitzgerald Gymnasium. STAC improves to 3-9, 2-1 ECC on the season, winning back-to-back games for the first time this season, while the host Knights drop to 0-9 and 0-3 in conference play.

Seven different players registered a point for the Spartans, with the aforementioned Huertas picking up 28, Erin Leary recording 18 points, Sarah Ericson and Victoria Kurisko registering 11 points each and Chanel Brodeur-Muir posting 10 points.

STAC shot 45.3 percent from the field (34-75) in the conference tilt, while making 11-of-21 buckets (52.4%) from behind the arc. Queens shot 42.7 percent (32-75) and 17-for-21 from the foul-line.

STAC NOTES AND HIGHLIGHTS:

• Eight different players recorded double-digit minutes in the contest. 
• Sarah Ericson led the Spartans with seven assists on the day.
• Alexa Huertas made 10 of her 18 field goal attempts, with 8-of-11 going from three. Erin Leary went 9-for-15 from the floor.
• Both STAC and Queens record 44 rebounds through 45 minutes of action, with Erin Leary leading the way for the Spartans with nine boards.
• St. Thomas Aquinas picked up five steals in the contest, with the Knights turning the ball over on 18 different occasions.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Both teams battled early, keeping the score close for the the first six minutes of the opening quarter. STAC would open 6 and 7-point leads late in the frame and took a 26-21 advantage through the first 10 minutes of action.
• The Spartans would expand their lead to as large as 12 (41-29) in the second quarter, before Queens would go on a 12-0 run to close the stanza and tie the game at 41-41 going into the halftime break.
• Alexa Huertas paced the offense for the Spartans in the first half, with 18 points, while Chelsea Reeves led all scorers with 19 points for Queens in 20 minutes of action.
• STAC would bust out to a 53-45 advantage to start the third quarter, but Queens fought back and forced a 56-56 tie late in the quarter, before take a three-point advantage (59-56) on a Chelsea Reeves bucket and free-throw.
• The teams would trade baskets to close out the frame and the host Knights would take a 63-61 mark into the final quarter of regulation.
• Queens expanded its lead to as much as nine points (76-69) mid-fourth quarter. However, the visitors in maroon and gold would go on an 11-4 run in the final 4:13 to tie the contest at 80 all and force extra time.
• In overtime, the Spartans would take a quick 2-point lead via an Erin Leary layup, but Farrah Pitt would tie the game again on a layup of her own with 3:51 left to play. 
• Back and forth action saw neither team score until just under two minutes remaining, as Victoria Kurisko would sink a pair of free-throws to make it 84-82 STAC. Queens was unable to score late and had to foul to preserve time on the clock. Sarah Ericson hit two foul shots to solidify the Spartans second consecutive victory, 86-82.

UP NEXT:

STAC returns to action on Wednesday evening, January 12, in our nation's capital, facing the University of the District of Columbia. Opening tip between the Spartans and Firebirds is scheduled for 5:00pm at the UDC Sports Complex.