The St. Thomas Aquinas women's basketball team beat Mercy College, 74-65 in Saturday's ECC contest.  Bianca Kowgios and Briana Sloper scored 21 and 20 points respectively and grabbed 7 rebounds to lead the Lady Spartans.  Kowgios added 7 assists while Sloper had a game high 6 steals. 

Leane Urbancik scored a layup with 3:30 left in the first half to give STAC their largest lead in the half, 34-24.  Kowgios finished the first half off with a pair of free throws to give STAC a 41-34 lead going into the break.   

A pair of Sloper free throws in the opening of the second half extended STAC's lead to eleven, 47-36.  The Mavericks went on a 12-2 run to come within one, 55-54 at the 12:15 mark.   The Lady Spartans maintained a small lead until Simone Williams hit a jumper to give the Mavericks a 62-61 lead at 7:48.  STAC held Mercy to three points for the remainder of the game as they closed on a 12-3 run.  Kowgios went 5-6 from the line to close out the game. 

Urbancik had 9 points and 4 rebounds for STAC.  Shpresa Liharevic added 8 points for STAC while Theresa Dowling and Kim Vareles each chipped in 6.  Dowling added 7 rebounds including 5 on the offensive glass.  Mercy edged STAC on the glass, 40-39.  Jasmine Williams had 22 points for Mercy.

STAC will return to action on Wednesday when they travel to C.W. Post.