Staten Island, N.Y. - The St. Thomas Aquinas College Women's Basketball team erased a nine-point halftime deficit by scoring 26 of 34 third quarter points, en route to a 61-56 victory over the College of Staten Island on Saturday afternoon at the CSI Sports & Recreation Center.

STAC improves to 4-3 overall and 2-1 in ECC play, while CSI falls to 5-4 and 2-2 in league action.

Erin Leary led the way for the Spartans, posting a double-double with 19 points and 12 rebounds, while teammate Sarah Ericson (19pts) also scored in double figures.

STAC shot 45.8 percent (22-48) from the field and 53.3 percent (8-15) from beyond the arc, while Staten Island shot 40.8 percent (20-49) from the floor.

STAC NOTES AND HIGHLIGHTS:

• Seven Spartans logged double-digit minutes in the contest. 
• Joline Raposo led the maroon and gold with five assists on the afternoon.
• Erin Leary made 7 of her 9 field goal attempts, with 4 of 6 going in from downtown. Meanwhile, Sarah Ericson went 6-for-12 from the floor and 3 of 6 from three.
• STAC out-rebounded Staten Island by a 31-20 margin, with Leary grabbing a game-high 12 boards for the Spartans.
• St. Thomas Aquinas picked up nine steals, with the Dolphins turning the ball over on 20 separate occasions.
• The Spartans earned advantages in two team statistical categories over Staten Island: Points in the Paint (24-16), Fastbreak Points (10-2) and Bench Points (17-9).
• The game featured one tie and five lead changes.

UP NEXT: 

St. Thomas Aquinas closes out its home schedule for calendar year 2023, hosting Bloomfield College of Montclair State University on Friday, December 15. Tip-off between the Spartans and Bears is set for 5:30 p.m. at Aquinas Hall Gymnasium in Sparkill.