Sparkill, N.Y. - A 43-point first half and strong fourth quarter defense helped the St. Thomas Aquinas College Women's Basketball team defeat the University of Bridgeport, 64-49 on Friday Evening at Aquinas Hall Gymnasium. STAC improves to 2-9, 1-1 ECC on the season, breaking a six-game winless streak, while the visiting Purple Knights drop to 3-7 and 0-3.
Seven different players registered a point for the Spartans, with Alexa Huertas and Sarah Ericson leading the way with 14 points each. Chanel Brodeur-Muir also posted double-figures in scoring, registering 10 points.
STAC shot 34.4 percent from the field (22-64) in the conference tilt, while making 9-of-25 buckets from behind the arc. Bridgeport shot 29.7% (19-64) and 6-for-26 from three.
STAC NOTES AND HIGHLIGHTS:
- Eight different players recorded double-digit minutes in the contest.
- Sarah Ericson led the Spartans with four assists on the day.
- Ericson made 5 of her 11 field goal attempts, with 4-of-8 going from three. Alexa Huertas went 5-for-15 from the floor.
- STAC scored the game's first basket at 9:29 of the first half on a Chanel Brodeur-Muir layup, and despite Bridgeport's third quarter surge, maintained the lead throughout the game.
- St. Thomas Aquinas picked up seven steals in the contest, with the Purple Knights turning the ball over on 19 different occasions.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- St. Thomas Aquinas was strong from the opening tip, holding a 23-12 lead at the first quarter, and a 43-23 advantage at the half. Bridgeport closed the gap on the scoreboard to six (48-42) at the end of three quarters of play, but STAC re-expanded its lead to as much as 15 points to close out the contest and pick up the 64-49 triumph.
- Sarah Ericson paced the offense for the Spartans in the first half, with 14 points, while Janiece Loney posted eight points for Bridgeport in 20 minutes of action.
- STAC's bench recorded 16 of the team's 64 points.
- The Spartans also held a slim margin in points off of turnovers (20-11).
- Bridgeport out rebounded St. Thomas Aquinas 48-44 in 40 minutes of action.
- The Spartans Angelique Holguin grabbed 10 boards to lead her team.
UP NEXT:
STAC returns to action on Sunday afternoon, December 19, facing Roberts Wesleyan College. Opening tip between the Spartans and Redhawks is scheduled for 1:00pm at Aquinas Hall in Sparkill.