Sparkill, N.Y. - The St. Thomas Aquinas College Women's Basketball team won its fourth straight contest on Wednesday, with a 74-61 triumph over the University of the District of Columbia, as the Spartans hosted Breast Cancer Awareness Night at Aquinas Hall.

STAC improves to 12-14 and 11-6 in the ECC on the season, while, UDC drops to 12-14 and 8-9 in conference play.

Chanel Brodeur-Muir led the Spartans with a double-double, 20 points and 10 rebounds, while Victoria Kurisko (14 points), Alexa Huertas (13 points), Erin Leary (12 points) and Karolina Jaruseviciute (10 points) also scored in double figures. Destiny Ryles (23 points) and Latavia Jackson (20 points) paced the Firebirds.

STAC shot 47.1 percent from the field (32-68), while UDC shot 31.7 percent (20-63) from the floor.

STAC NOTES AND HIGHLIGHTS:

• Seven players recorded double-digit minutes in the contest. 
• Julia Reggio led the Spartans with six assists on the evening.
• Chanel Brodeur-Muir made 7 of her 10 field goal attempts, while Victoria Kurisko went 7-for-16 from the floor.
• STAC out rebounded District of Columbia 49-31 in 40 minutes of action, with Chanel Brodeur-Muir grabbing 10 boards for the Spartans.
• St. Thomas Aquinas picked up seven steals in the contest, with the Firebirds turning the ball over on 14 separate occasions.
• The Spartans earned advantages in three team statistical categories over District of Columbia: Second Chance Points (15-9), Points in the Paint (42-24) and Bench Points (13-8).

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• St. Thomas Aquinas opened the first quarter with an early 9-0 lead, causing UDC to call a timeout in an attempt to stem the tide.
• Following the timeout, STAC and UDC traded baskets for a big chunk of the frame, with the host Spartans holding onto a five-point advantage (25-20) after 10 minutes of play.
• The second quarter would play out just like the first, as the teams would battle for every inch of space on the court, and the margin on the scoreboard remaining in single digits. UDC would even tie the game (35-35) with just under a minute to play before halftime. However, a Victoria Kurisko jumper and an Alexa Huertas free-throw in the final seconds before the buzzer, gave STAC a three-point lead, 38-37.
• Alexa Huertas and Victoria Kurisko recorded eight first half points each for STAC, while Latavia Jackson led all scorers with 14 points for UDC.
• Following the break, the Spartans took an eight-point advantage (49-41), with UDC then getting within five at 49-44. STAC would then go on a 7-0 run to push its lead back to 11 (55-44) with three minutes to play in the third quarter.
• St. Thomas Aquinas took an eight-point margin on the scoreboard (60-52) into the fourth quarter.
• UDC attempted to rally in final stanza, getting within just five points (60-55) early, before STAC put its foot back on the proverbial gas pedal and rebuilt a double-digit lead of 13 points. The 74-61 advantage would be the final result as the clock hit triple zeros.

UP NEXT:

St. Thomas Aquinas College closes its 2021-22 regular season schedule, visiting the College of Staten Island on Saturday, February 26. Opening tip is set for 1:00pm at the Sports and Recreation Center on Staten Island.