The St. Thomas Aquinas College women's basketball team dropped a 79-54 decision in a non-conference contest at Caldwell University. The Lady Spartans, ranked #8 in the East in this week's D2SIDA (Division II Sports Information Directors Association) poll, now stand at 6-2 overall, with Caldwell, regionally ranked #3, improved to 7-1. 

Jenna Erickson tied for the game-high in points, pacing the Lady Spartans with 20 while Adiya Henderson added 12 and 10 rebounds. Karlie O'Driscoll led four Cougars in double-figures with 20 points, with Kristen Drogsler chipping in 17.

Antoinette Pilla ran off seven straight first-quarter points in helping Caldwell open a 17-6 lead. Alex Bertolino struck from deep to bring the Lady Spartans within 20-14 in the final minute, but a Drogsler bucket in the waning seconds opened a 22-14 gap after one.

Erickson heated up with a pair of threes to bring STAC to within 24-20, but the Cougars extended back to a 36-29 gap at half. While Caldwell again extended the lead, another Erickson three kept the Lady Spartans in reaching distance at 43-34 with 7:15 left in the third.

Caldwall would clamp down on the defense from there, keeping the visitors off the board for over three minutes, and a 17-5 outburst over the remainder of the session opened a decisive 60-39 chasm. STAC was outrebounded by a 47-35 total, and shot just 30% from the field (19-64) compared to the Cougars' 51% (30-59).

The Lady Spartans are back on the road Wednesday night in East Coast Conference competition against LIU Post in a 5:00 pm start. They will return to Aquinas Hall for a pair, hosting NYIT on Saturday, December 10, and the University of Bridgeport on Thursday, December 15.