The St. Thomas Aquinas College women's basketball team fell to an 82-72 East Coast Conference defeat at the hands of the University of the District of Columbia. With the setback, the Lady Spartans fell to 11-5 overall and 4-4 in conference, with UDC winning its 10th straight to improve to 11-3, 6-0.

UDC jumped to an early 9-2 lead, but the Lady Spartans closed the gap to 19-15 by the end of the first quarter. Both teams were sharp from the perimeter, and a pair of Jenna Erickson three-pointers and two free throws from Kate McCue bringing STAC to within 26-25. Taj Baldwin-Kollore and Tiara Goode quickly answered with treys of their own to open the gap, setting the tone for the rest of the contest.

STAC would draw to within 36-35 at halftime but were still unable to grap the lead, and the Firebirds took the momentum in the third quarter. Goode opened an 8-0 run with a pair from downtown, and a Baldwin-Kollore jumper from deep capped a 19-4 run, making for a 55-39 deficit.

Adiya Henderson scored six points in an 11-0 Lady Spartans' run, drawing the gap to 55-50 but that was as close as the hosts would get, as Goode answered with yet another three. Again, UDC would open the lead and STAC closed to within 64-59 in the waning minutes, but the visitors had the final answer for the victory.

Erickson led STAC with 14 points while Henderson added 11. Goode and Baldwin-Kollore were the difference for UDC with 21 points each, as the Firebirds hit 12 three-pointers in all.

The Lady Spartans return to action on Wednesday, January 20, hosting the University of Bridgeport at Aquinas Hall. Game time is 6:00 pm, as the front end of a double-header, followed by the men's teams squaring off.

- Steve Balsan, St. Thomas Aquinas Sports Information

- Photo by Dorice Arden