The St. Thomas Aquinas College women's basketball team used a stifling defense and game-high 24 points from Briana Sloper to earn a 57-42 victory at Lincoln University (Pa), the Lady Spartans fourth win in five games overall. Briana Cook added a career-high 22 for STAC.

Both teams had trouble generating offense in the first half, with the Lady Spartans utilizing a 16-5 run to erase a two-point deficit - their only one of the evening - and take a 22-13 lead. The visitors enjoyed a narrow 24-19 advantage heading into the locker room at halftime.

Coach Kim Lusk's squad jump-started the offense after the break, outscoring the Lions 20-6 over the next 11 minutes to establish their dominance. The Lady Spartans extended their margin to as much as 22, and were never threatened. STAC's defense created 34 turnovers and accounted for 17 steals, led by Bianca Kowgios' six, to go with her seven assists.

Cook was torrid from the field, shooting 8-of-13 to go with her four steals. Kim Vareles led all rebounders with nine while Sloper pulled down seven. Denyse Moore led the way for Lincoln, with her 21 points accounting for half of her team's total. Both teams shot just 38% from the field (STAC, 23-60; Lincoln 17-45), and the hosts enjoyed a 40-34 rebounding edge.

St. Thomas Aquinas has now won two straight and improves to 4-3, topping the .500 plateau for the first time this season while the host Lions fell to 3-4 off their third straight setback.

After playing their last two in a row on the road, the Lady Spartans return to the friendly confines of Aquinas Hall for their next three, including their East Coast Conference opener this Wednesday, December 7 against Queens College. Tip-off time is set for 5:30 and is part of a double-header preceding the men's contest. STAC will then play its first-ever ECC hoops tilt against University of District of Columbia as the DC contingent visits Sparkill on Saturday, December 10 (1:00 pm), and one week later LeMoyne College pays a call on December 17, again at 1:00 pm. If you can't be there in person to be part of the Aquinas Hall Edge, you can catch all the video online via New Media Television Sports - just click the appropriate link on the team schedule page.