The St. Thomas Aquinas College women's basketball team saw it's season-best five-game winning streak snapped in a 64-43 East Coast Conference loss at NYIT. Alyson Brennan led the Lady Spartans with 16 points and a game-high eight rebounds but her squad dropped to 13-12 overall and 9-6 in the ECC. NYIT retained first place, improving to 22-1, 14-1.

STAC struggled from the outset, as four different Bears registered baskets in the first three minutes to stake the hosts to a 9-0 lead. A Sara Oliviera jumper would cut the margin to 11-7 just two minutes later, but NYIT would explode on a 15-2 run and never look back.

After trailing by a 39-19 margin at half, the Lady Spartans saw their deficit increased to as much as 28 points at 49-21 with just under 17 minutes remaining. The visitors would show some life, however, with Colleen Ames hitting a pair of treys and Brennan adding five points in a 20-4 STAC run that would bring them to within 53-41 with six minutes remaining, but the Bears were able to regain control and secure the victory.

Nikki Jo Rotolo led all scorers with 17 points for NYIT, with teammates Charlene Riddick adding 13 and Rebecca Lynch posting 10. The Lady Spartans actually enjoyed a 42-31 rebounding edge, but it was not enough to overcome the 29 turnovers that sealed their fate.

The Lady Spartans are now one game behind Bridgeport for third place in the ECC standings, in a tie for fourth with their next opponent. STAC will travel to LIU-Post for a big showdown this Wednesday, February 20, in a 5:00 start, and will then host Bridgeport in another huge contest on Saturday, February 23 in a 1:00 tip at Aquinas Hall. The third and fourth place teams will secure home court for the first round of the upcoming ECC tournament.