Rochester, N.Y. - The St. Thomas Aquinas College Women's Basketball team used strong defense and timely scoring to earn a gritty 62-54 victory over Roberts Wesleyan College on Sunday afternoon, in the second of back-to-back games against the Redhawks at the Voller Athletic Center.

STAC improves to 7-12 and 6-4 in the ECC on the season, ending a two-game skid, while Roberts Wesleyan fell to 10-6 and 7-3 in conference play.

Erin Leary led the way for the Spartans, posting 17 points, while Alexa Huertas (10 points) also scored in double-figures. Taryn Wilson (19pts) and Georgia Haverlock (18pts) paced the Redhawk offense.

STAC shot 36.2 percent from the field (21-58) in the conference tilt, while Roberts Wesleyan shot 28.8 percent (15-52) from the floor.

STAC NOTES AND HIGHLIGHTS:

• Seven different players recorded double-digit minutes in the contest. 
• Alexa Huertas led the Spartans with three assists on the day.
• Erin Leary made 6 of her 13 field goal attempts, while Angelique Holguin went 4-for-10 from the floor.
• STAC out rebounded Roberts Wesleyan 41-31 in 40 minutes of action, with Erin Leary leading the way for the Spartans with 11 boards.
• St. Thomas Aquinas picked up five steals in the contest, with the Redhawks turning the ball over on 11 different occasions.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Roberts Wesleyan would open the scoring just eight seconds into the contest on a Georgia Haverlock trey, but the Spartans would be ready for a battle with the Redhawks, as both teams traded baskets early and often in the frame. STAC would go on a 7-0 run late to make it 17-7 and finish out the quarter with a 17-10 advantage through 10 minutes of play.
• In second quarter action, Roberts fought back to take a one point lead (18-17) with just over eight minutes to go before halftime. However, St. Thomas Aquinas wrestled the lead back on multiple occasions in the stanza, earning a pair of five-point margins, before taking a 36-33 edge into the locker room at the break.
• Erin Leary led all scorers in the first half with 13 points for the Spartans. Meanwhile, Georgia Haverlock recorded 11 points for Roberts Wesleyan.
• After the intermission, the Redhawks tied things up at 36 all with 9:21 to play, but STAC would regain the lead on an Angelique Holguin jumper (38-36). The teams would get into a defensive stalemate, keeping each other off of the scoreboard for large stretches of the quarter. Tied at 40 for almost three minutes, the Spartans went on an 8-0 run to make it 48-40 and closed the period leading 51-42.
• Roberts Wesleyan attempted to chip away at the St. Thomas Aquinas advantage early on in the fourth quarter, but the Spartans' defense would hold serve and only allow two points in the first seven minutes of action, while their offense would extend the lead to 12 (56-44).
• In the last minute of regulation, a Taryn Wilson three-pointer would cut the Redhawks deficit to five (59-54), before three made free throws by Sarah Ericson would seal the deal and give the maroon and gold the 62-54 triumph.

UP NEXT:

St. Thomas Aquinas returns to Aquinas Hall on Wednesday, February 2 to take on Mercy College. Opening tip is scheduled for 5:30pm and is the front-end of a doubleheader, which will feature the men's team also taking on the visiting Mavericks at 7:30pm.