The St. Thomas Aquinas women's basketball team lost, 71-66, in their 2011-2012 season opener to the University of the Sciences.  Briana Sloper led all scorers with 25 points in the loss.  Shpresa Liharevic had 14 points while Kim Vareles added 8 for STAC.

Liharevic got STAC off to a fast start, scoring five points to help her team to a 9-2 advantage after just four minutes and 21 seconds of play. The game was deadlocked six times before a 7-0 USP run gave the home team a 27-20 lead with 3:51 remaining in the first half but a lay-up by the Lady Spartans Sylvia Davis with 15 seconds left helped the Lady Spartans close to within three at the break. Sloper finished the half with 11 points while snaring six of her nine boards for the day in the opening 20 minutes.

Liharevic's jumper at the 2:12 mark of the second half made it a one point contest (31-30) but that is as close as STAC would get the rest of the afternoon. Liharevic finished with 14 points and Bianca Kowgios chipped in with six points, five rebounds, five steals and four assists in a hard fought loss.

Brianne Traub led the Devils with 20 points and 11 rebounds. Elsebeth Birman and Carolyn Edwards added 18 and 15 points respecitvely. USP held a 42-35 rebounding advantage on the Lady Spartans.

STAC will play at Philadelphia University on Sunday afternoon at 1:30 pm.