The St. Thomas Aquinas College women's basketball team fell to a 70-68 setback in a non-conference battle with Southern Connecticut State University at Aquinas Hall. Adiya Henderson led the way with 17 points and Ruth Adams added 16 as STAC dropped to 5-1 on the season, with SCSU improving to 2-3.

Abby Hurlbert had the hot hand early with a pair of threes as the Owls raced to a 16-8 lead, but Adams helped the Lady Spartans rally to tie the score at 16-16 after one quarter. After Jenna Erickson put STAC ahead with an early jumper, SCSU embarked on a 14-3 run to regain the edge at 28-21.

After trailing 35-30 at halftime, the Lady Spartans got a boost from Henderson, as her 10 third-quarter points help narrow the margin to 54-53 entering the final quarter. A Henderson free throw followed by a Bertolino three snapped a tie to give the hosts their biggest lead at 60-56 with eight minutes left.

Taylor McLaughlin converted a three-point play to tie the score at 63-63 with under three minutes left when errant foul shooting took its toll as STAC missed five straight and seven-of-10 from the line in the final minutes to open the door. Murphy Murad hit a huge three to give Southern a 69-66 lead with under a minute left, and Kiana Steinauer added a free throw with 22 seconds left.

McLaughlin missed a pair from the line with a chance to open the gap further and Henderson was fouled to give STAC life, as the two shots cut the deficit to 70-68 with 15 seconds left. Pressure forced a turnover, giving the Lady Spartans another chance, but Ruth Adams' shot was offline, and a last-second attempt was not released in time.

Bertolino chipped in 12 points off the STAC bench, while Hurlbert led SCSU with 18 before fouling out, and Murad added 17. St. Thomas Aquinas held a 42-39 rebounding gap, but Southern's 10 three-pointers made the difference.

The Lady Spartans return to action for an East Coast Conference test against Roberts Wesyelan College in a 5:30 pm start at Aquinas Hall. The game is the front end of a double-header, to be followed by the men's teams in action.