The St. Thomas Aquinas College Lady Spartans rallied from a late deficit but fell at LIU Post, 64-62 in an East Coast Conference tilt. Jenna Erickson recorded a game-high 18 points but her Lady Spartans dropped their fourth straight to fall to 13-9 overall and 6-8 in the ECC, while Post improved to 5-17, 5-9.

STAC led for much of a closely-played first quarter, which ended with the Pioneers holding a 16-14 lead. Post would extend that gap to 28-21, but a pair of Alyson Brennan free throws trimmed the margin to 29-25 at half.

LIU Post led for the entire second half and the game seemed out of reach at 64-55 with 2:45 left in the fourth quarter, but the Lady Spartans would stage a furious comeback. Erickson, who was in foul trouble much of the day, hit a free throw and a pair of three pointers - the second with 1:10 remaining to make the score 64-62. STAC had a pair of chances in the waning seconds, with Alyson Brennan missing a three-pointer and Adiya Henderson's last-second shot to tie falling off the rim.

Ruth Adams had a strong game off the bench with 14 points, while Brennan added 12 for STAC. Khea Gibbs came off the bench to lead LIU Post with 15 points.

The Lady Spartans return to Aquinas Hall for their next three straight, starting Thursday, February 11 against Daemen College with tip time set for 5:30 pm. They will host Roberts Wesleyan on Saturday, February 13, and Mercy College pays a visit on Tuesday, February 16.

- Steve Balsan, St. Thomas Aquinas Sports Information

- Photo by Dorice Arden