Sparkill, N.Y. - The St. Thomas Aquinas College Women's Basketball team returned to the hardwood on Sunday afternoon for non-conference clash with Pace University at Aquinas Hall Gymnasium. Despite receiving a solid defensive effort for large stretches of the contest, the visiting Setters were able to take a 51-40 decision from the Spartans.

STAC slips to 2-4 on the season, while Pace remains perfect on the year at 5-0.

Sarah Ericson led the Spartans offense, posting 12 points, while Erin Leary recorded nine points on the day.

STAC shot 31.3 percent from the field (15-48), while Pace shot 29.4 percent (15-51) from the floor.

STAC NOTES AND HIGHLIGHTS:

• Seven Spartans logged double-digit minutes in the contest. 
• Sarah Ericson picked up three assists on the afternoon for the maroon and gold.
• Ericson made 5 of her 13 field goal attempts, with Erin Leary hitting 3 of 7 shots from the floor.
• STAC and Pace each recorded 37 rebounds in 40 minutes of action, with Sarah Ericson grabbing a team-high eight boards for the Spartans.
• St. Thomas Aquinas picked up five steals, with the Setters turning the ball over on 14 separate occasions.
• The Spartans earned an advantage in one team statistical category over Pace: Points in the Paint (22-20).
• The game featured two ties and two lead changes.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• STAC opened the game with a 10-4 streak, as Sarah Ericson accounted for eight of the first ten points in a low scoring first quarter. 
• Pace hit a pair of free throws in the final 30 seconds of the stanza to cut the deficit to 10-6 though the first ten minutes of action.
• A 6-2 run by the Spartans, with Erin Leary and Trinity Cheatom getting on the scoresheet, put the hosts ahead 16-8 with sevens minutes to play before halftime.
• The visiting Setters closed the first half with a 17-3 run over the next 6:54 to lead 25-19 at the break.
• Sarah Ericson paced the Spartans offense in the first half with eight points, while Tower Lorde led all scorers with nine points for the Setters.
• Pace continued to build its advantage once the teams returned to the court for second half action, taking a six-point lead and ballooning it to 15-point margin (36-21) on the strength of an 11-2 run, which took the third quarter all the way down to its final two minutes.
• An Erin Leary jumper and three-pointer to close the stanza made it 38-26 through three quarters of play.
• Pace maintained its double-digit lead for most of the final frame, but the maroon and gold would push back late.
• Trailing by 12 points, Bailey Chapman's three free throws, Karolina Jaruseviciute's three-point play and a pair of foul shots by Sarah Ericson cut the deficit in half to make it 44-40 with 90 seconds to play in regulation.
• Pace would pick up the final seven points of the contest via a pair of buckets and three free throws, as the Spartans were attempting to slow down the game and preserve time on the clock.

UP NEXT:

STAC will regroup and prepare for its next opponent, Mercy University on Saturday, December 2. The Spartans and Mavericks tip-off at 1:00 p.m. inside of Aquinas Hall Gym in Sparkill, N.Y.