Briana Sloper scored 15 of her game high 25 points in the second half to lead the St. Thomas Aquinas College women's basketball team to a 71-64 victory over ECC rival Mercy College on Saturday afternoon in Dobbs Ferry, New York. Shpresa Liharevic added 16 to enable STAC to end a six game losing streak.

The Mercy Mavericks got out of the gate quickly, scoring the game's first six points before STAC answered with 11 straight - seven of them from Sloper - to take a five point lead 6:49 in. Mercy regained the lead on a Jasmine Williams layup with 6:01 left in the opening half but that would be the last time the Lady Spartans would trail on the day.

Led by Liharevic and Sloper, who combined for 25 points over the final 20 minutes, and 13 for 24 shooting from the field, the Lady Spartans led by as much as 11 in the second half on their way to improving to 8-9 overall and 3-4 in ECC play. 

Ashley Motrechuk also chipped in with a season high 14 points in 28 minutes off of the bench for STAC. Jasmine Williams had 21 points and 17 boards while Simone Williams added 12 points for Mercy College.

The Lady Spartans return home to face the University of Bridgeport on Wednesday, January 25 with the action scheduled to commence at 5:30 pm at Aquinas Hall as the front end of a twin-bill with the men's teams. You can watch all the action and follow along with Live Stats by clicking the appropriate schedule links at game time.