Sparkill, N.Y. - The St. Thomas Aquinas College Women's Basketball team dropped a 73-69 overtime decision to Molloy College at Aquinas Hall Gymnasium on Sunday afternoon.

STAC falls to 8-13 and 7-5 in the ECC on the season, while the Lions improve to 11-8, 8-4.

Sarah Ericson posted a double-double, 24 points and 10 rebounds, on the day for the Spartans, while, Erin Leary (16 points) also scored in double-figures. Gabriella Aspuru led all Molloy scorers with 23 points. 

STAC shot 32.3 percent from the field (21-65) in the ECC tilt, while Molloy shot 43.8 percent (28-64) from the floor.

STAC NOTES AND HIGHLIGHTS:

• Seven different players recorded double-digit minutes in the contest. 
• Sarah Ericson led the Spartans with six assists in the game.
• Ericson made seven of her 18 field goal attempts, with five of those shots going in from behind the arc.
• STAC and Molloy each picked up 42 rebounds in 45 minutes of action. Sarah Ericson grabbed 10 of those boards for the Spartans.
• St. Thomas Aquinas forced five steals, with the Lions turning the ball over on nine different occasions.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• STAC opened the contest on an 8-0 run buoyed by a pair of threes from Sarah Ericson and Alexa Huertas, causing Molloy to burn a timeout just 8:14 into the stanza.
• The visiting Lions would cut their deficit to just two and the teams would then trade baskets for the remainder of the frame with no team taking more than a five-point lead. St. Thomas Aquinas closed the first quarter only leading by one, 16-15.
• In second quarter action, a very low scoring affair between the teams would result in the Spartans holding two, six-point leads 23-17 and 27-21, which was the result though 20 minutes of action.
• Alexa Huertas led the way for STAC in the first half with eight points, while Cameron Corbett and Gabriella Aspuru each recorded six points for Molloy.
• Out of the halftime break, Molloy would work their way back into the game, answering the Spartan scoring with quality attempts of their own. Late in the quarter, the Lions tied the game at 40-40, but a pair of Erin Leary free throws gave St. Thomas Aquinas a slim two-point margin at 42-40.
• Fourth quarter action saw the Lions take their first lead of the game (43-42) early on, as the teams battled for every possession down the stretch. STAC and Molloy each held multiple one-point advantages in the waning moments of regulation, but a made free throw by Janel Moore tied the game at 62 all and forced overtime.
• In overtime, Molloy went on a 7-0 run to begin the extra period of play, taking a 69-62 lead. The Spartans would then put up a 7-0 run over their own to tie the game at 69-69 with just under 45 seconds left to play. However, a Gabriella Aspuru jumper and a pair of Maya Thomas free throws in the final seconds of OT, gave Molloy the 73-69 road victory in the first of back-to-back matchups with STAC.

UP NEXT:

The Spartans get the opportunity for immediate redemption, only this time on the road, as they face Molloy College on Wednesday night (February 9) at Quealy Gymnasium. Opening tip is set for 5:00 p.m. in Rockville Centre.