The St. Thomas Aquinas College Women Basketball team continues its 2021-22 post-season run, taking on #2 seed Molloy College on Saturday afternoon at 3:00 pm, at top seed and host Daemen College (Lumsden Gymasium) in Amherst, N.Y.
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For More Information, visit ECC Women's Basketball Championship Central
The Teams - St. Thomas Aquinas - The #3 seeded Spartans (14-14, 12-6) advanced to the semis on the strength of Wednesday's 63-49 home victory over #6 District of Columbia. Alexa Huertas led the way for STAC with 17 points and averages a team-high 12.9 points per game. Sarah Ericson (10.7 ppg, 6.3 rpg & 3.5 apg), Victoria Kurisko (8.8 ppg & 4.5 rpg), Erin Leary (7.9 ppg & 5.5 rpg) and Chanel Brodeur-Muir (7.0 ppg & 5.5 rpg) contribute to a young, but gritty lineup as the maroon and gold currently rank ninth in team scoring (61.0) and third in defense (60.6) in the conference.
A pair Spartans punctuated the All-Conference awards, with Sarah Ericson taking home ECC Rookie of the Year honors and a Second Team selection, while Alexa Huertas also picked up Second Team accolades.
The Teams - Molloy - The #2 seeded Lions received a first-round bye and enter tournament play with a record of 16-9 overall, 13-5 in the ECC, looking to win their first ECC Tournament title since 2017. Gabriella Aspuru averages a team-high 16.7 points per game with 4.9 rebounds per game. Safiyyah Lee (13.3 ppg & 8.5 rpg), Maya Thomas (9.2 ppg & 4.9 rpg) and Trinity Hudson (9.0 ppg & 9.0 rpg) are the major contributors to the Lions, who currently rank eighth in team scoring (61.5) and second in defense (56.3).
Season Series (Molloy wins 2-0):
February 6, 2022, Molloy 73, @STAC 69 in OT - A nip and tuck affair throughtout, Molloy was able to force overtime on the strength of a late fourth quarter free-throw by Janel Moore, before the visitors outscored the hosts in maroon and gold 11-7 in the extra session to take the tilt. Sarah Ericson posted a game-high 24 points, along with 10 rebounds, while Erin Leary picked up 16 points. Gabriella Aspuru led the way for the Lions with 23 points, as Janel Moore (17) and Trinity Hudson (12) also scored in double figures.
February 9, 2022 - @Molloy 53, STAC 52 - In the rematch in Rockville Centre, just three days later, another closely contested affair came down to a clutch made three-pointer by Gabriella Aspuru in the waning moments to give the hosts a one-point triumph. Erin Leary posted 14 points and 10 rebounds, with Alexa Huertas picking up 12 and Sarah Ericson scoring 10 points for the Spartans. Chanel Brodeur-Muir also grabbed 10 boards in the matchup. Gabriella Aspuru paced the Lions with a game-high 21 points, as Maya Thomas (12) and Cameron Corbett (11) also helped Molloy to victory, sweeping the season series.
What's Next? - The winner of this game will advance to the ECC Tournament Final on Sunday, March 6, at 12:00 pm at Lumsden Gym. They will take on the winner of the Saturday noon semi-final between #1 Daemen and #4 Roberts Wesleyan. Like Molloy, Daemen earned a bye into the semis, while Roberts Wesleyan advanced with a 70-64 home victory over Mercy College on Wednesday night.
2022 EAST COAST CONFERENCE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
First Round – Wednesday, March 2 at campus sites
7:00 p.m. - No. 5 Mercy 64 at No. 4 Roberts Wesleyan 70
7:00 p.m. - No. 6 District of Columbia 49 at No. 3 St. Thomas Aquinas 63
Semifinals – Saturday, March 5 at Daemen
12:00 p.m. - No. 4 Roberts Wesleyan vs. No. 1 Daemen
3:00 p.m. - No. 3 St. Thomas Aquinas vs. No. 2 Molloy (PURCHASE TICKETS HERE)
Final – Sunday, March 6 at Daemen
12:00 p.m. - Semifinal winner vs. Semifinal winner
BROADCAST/LIVE STATISTICS INFORMATION
For those who cannot be in attendance, Saturday's Game will be broadcast LIVE on both the Spartan Sports Network and the ECC Network.
LIVE statistics will also be available for fans to follow all of the game action, if you cannot make it to Lumsden Gymnasium or watch the web stream.
TICKET PRICING & COVID PROTOCOLS
All Games
$8 - General Admission
$4 - Students with ID, Senior Citizens, Children Ages 5-12
Children under 5 free for all games
* Must purchase a ticket to attend semifinal round game on March 5 *
* Tickets must be purchased at the link above. Due to the seating capacity of the tournament venues, it is recommended that tickets be purchased in advance. The ECC and Host Institutions will not guarantee that tickets will be available at the door. *
* Current COVID-19 protocols for each host school are listed on the ticket site. Policies MUST be followed to attend the ECC Championship. *