The St. Thomas Aquinas College women's basketball team captured a 54-43 East Coast Conference victory over Roberts Wesleyan College at Aquinas Hall. Jenna Erickson netted seven three-pointers in the first half to boost the Lady Spartans to 14-10 overall and 7-9 in conference, while RWC fell to 19-4, 11-4.

Entering the matinee contest, the story was a pair of teams heading in opposite directions, with the Redhawks having won five straight and STAC having dropped the same amount. But it was the Lady Spartans who took the attack to the visitors early on. Lucy Covely gave RWC a quick 3-0 lead from deep in the opening minute, but the hosts exploded for the next 17 points, highlighted by a pair of Erickson treys.

STAC went nearly five minutes without a point, allowing Roberts a 6-0 run to start the second quarter and draw within 18-11. Erickson broke the drought with another three pointer with 7:21 left in the half, and she would add four more - including one in the final seconds, to give STAC a 34-21 advantage heading into the locker room.

Though she would score one point the rest of the way, Erickson's 22-point first-half outburst proved to be the difference. The Lady Spartans opened their lead to 17 at 43-26 with under two to play in an offensively-challenged third quarter, but RWC closed to 43-30 at the break.

While STAC's offense continued to have it's problems, the defense picked up the slack until Sam Burden's long jumper extended the lead to 49-36 midway through the fourth, and the lead would not be trimmed lower than double-digits the rest of the way.

Burden chipped in 12 points and 10 rebounds for STAC, with Alex Bertolino adding 10 points. Lucy Covley was the lone Redhawk in double-figures with 12 points. Roberts shot just 21% from the field on the afternoon (11-53), while St. Thomas Aquinas won the rebound battle, 47-39.

With four games remaining, STAC retains the sixth and final playoff slot in the ECC standings, just 1/2 game behind Molloy and and the same distance ahead of Daeman in the tight grouping fighting for the post-season.

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The Lady Spartans return to action on Tuesday, February 16, hosting Mercy College in an East Coast Conference battle. Game time is 6:00 pm, as the front end of a double-header followed by the men's teams.

- Steve Balsan, St. Thomas Aquinas Sports Information

- Photo by Dorice Arden