The St. Thomas Aquinas women's basketball team beat NYIT, 62-52.  Bianca Kowgios and Shpresa Liharevic each had 16 points.  Kowgios added 10 rebounds for STAC while Liharevic was 4-5 from behind the arc.  Briana Sloper had 15 points and 9 rebounds. 

The Lady Spartans held a single digit lead for the entire first half expanding it to eight behind a pair of Sloper free throws with 2:08 remaining.  Freshman Riley Harrington drained two free throws to give STAC a 26-20 lead at the break. 

Kim Vareles gave STAC their first double digit lead as she converted on a traditional three point play to put STAC ahead, 37-26.  The Bears went on a 10-3 run to come within one, 40-39 with 9:56 to go.  A layup from Kowgios and a pair of free throws a possession later gave STAC a 44-41 lead.  NYIT put together a 6-2 charge to take their first lead of the game, 47-46 with 5:46 remaining. 

Liharevic drained a three on the next possession to put STAC back on top.  The sophomore guard hit another 3-pointer with 2:34 to go to give STAC a 56-52 lead.  Kowgios went 5-6 from the foul line to close out the game.  

Cierra Baker had 19 points and 7 rebounds for NYIT.  Rebecca Lynch and Demitra Apergis had 16 and 10 points respectively.  STAC held a 38-29 rebounding advantage over the Bears who lead the ECC on the offensive glass.  Theresa Dowling added 6 rebounds for STAC while Kim Vareles had 4.   Vareles and Dowling added 7 and 6 points for STAC.

The Lady Spartans will host Molloy on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.