The St. Thomas Aquinas College women's basketball team saw its four-game winning streak snapped in an 82-54 setback against NYIT at Aquinas Hall. Alyson Brennan paced the Lady Spartans with 15 points as STAC fell to 8-8 overall and 4-2 in the East Coast Conference. NYIT remained perfect on the season, improving to 14-0, 6-0.

Despite playing a solid first half, the Lady Spartans found themselves in a 49-34 hole at the break, largely due to NYIT's torrid shooting. The Bears, not noted for their perimiter game, shot 8-for-11 (73%) from behind the arc and 63% overall in the first 20 minutes.

While STAC appeared to be within striking distance, the visitors wasted little time in pulling away after the break, embarking on a 12-2 run over the first six minutes that opened a 61-37 chasm and the hosts would not threaten thereafter.

Sara Oliviera added 11 points and Shpresa Liharevic added 10 for St. Thomas Aquinas, while NYIT was paced by Charlene Riddick's game-high 19 points, including five three-pointers. Nikki Jo Rotolo recorded 15 points, Rebecca Lynch added 13, and Chantal Diaz added 11 off the bench in the deep attack.

Tech hit 11 treys in all, shooting a blazing 69% for the game (11-16), and also won the battle of the boards by a decisive 44-35 count.

St. Thomas Aquinas will take its act on the road to face the University of Bridgeport in another ECC tilt this Saturday, January 19, with a 1:00 pm tip. They will return to Aquinas Hall to host LIU-Post next Wednesday, January 23 at 5:30 pm.