Philadelphia, Pa. - The St. Thomas Aquinas Women's Basketball team opened up the 2024 portion of their schedule on Thursday, with a 71-52 road setback to #8/10 nationally ranked Jefferson University at the Gallagher Center.
STAC sees its modest four-game win streak end and slips to 7-6 overall, while Jefferson improves to 11-1 on the season.
Erin Leary led the way for the Spartans, posting a team-high 11 points, while teammate Trinity Cheatom (10pts) also recorded double-digit point totals.
STAC shot 37.0 percent from the field (20-54), while Jefferson shot 43.3 percent (29-67) from the floor.
STAC NOTES AND HIGHLIGHTS:
- Nine Spartans logged double-digit minutes in the contest.
- Erin Leary led the maroon and gold with four assists on the afternoon.
- Leary made 4 of her 10 field goal attempts, while Trinity Cheatom went 3-of-9 from the field.
- Jefferson out-rebounded STAC by a slim 37-35 margin, with Erin Leary grabbing six boards for the Spartans.
- St. Thomas Aquinas picked up nine steals, with the Rams turning the ball over on 11 separate occasions.
- The Spartans earned one advantage in the team statistical categories over Jefferson: Bench Points (21-11).
- The game featured five ties and 11 lead changes.
JEFFERSON NOTES AND HIGHLIGHTS:
- Jefferson shot under 30.0 percent from the floor in the first and third quarters, while shooting 46.7 percent (7-for-15) in the second quarter and 42.9 percent (6-for-14) in the fourth quarter. The Rams also missed just one free throw during the course of the entire game (90.0 percent/9-of-10).
- Sam Yencha led all scorers with 17 points, shooting 8-of-16 from the field. Meanwhile, teammates and fellow starters Haley Meinel (16pts) and Cassie Murphy (16pts) also recorded double-digit point totals.
- Jefferson outscored STAC 39-21 in the second half.
UP NEXT:
St. Thomas Aquinas College will now prepare to visit Chestnut Hill College on Thursday, January 11. The Spartans and Griffins will tip-off at 5:30 p.m. inside of Sorgenti Arena in Philadelphia, Pa.