Washington, D.C. - Despite receiving double-digit point totals from both Erin Leary and Sarah Ericson, the St. Thomas Aquinas College Women's Basketball team suffered a 66-58 East Coast Conference loss to the University of the District of Columbia on Wednesday evening at the Dr. Edwin Bancroft Henderson Sports Complex.

The defeat sends the Spartans to a 3-5 overall record and a 1-1 mark in ECC play. UDC remains perfect on the year at 9-0 and 3-0.

As mentioned earlier, Erin Leary led the Spartans with 21 points in 39 minutes of action, while teammate Sarah Ericson racked up 17 points in 35 minutes.

STAC shot 31.3 percent (21-67) from the field, while UDC shot 38.6 percent (27-70) from the floor.

STAC NOTES AND HIGHLIGHTS:

• Eight Spartans logged double-digit minutes in the contest. 
• Sarah Ericson and Erin Leary led the maroon and gold with three assists apiece on the evening.
• Leary made 8 of her 17 field goal attempts, while Ericson hit 6 of 18 shots from the floor.
• UDC out-rebounded STAC by a slim 48-45 margin, with Sarah Ericson and Erin Leary each grabbing nine boards for the Spartans.
• St. Thomas Aquinas picked up two steals, with the Firebirds turning the ball over on 12 separate occasions.
• The Spartans earned an advantage in one team statistical category over District of Columbia: Second Chance Points (9-6)
• The game featured four ties and two lead changes.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• UDC opened the contest with an 8-2 run, before Erin Leary' three-pointer and Sarah Ericson's jumper narrowed the Spartans deficit to 8-7.
• STAC took its first lead of the game with a little over 30 seconds to play in the frame, via back to back treys from Leary, to make it 13-10.
• A final layup by the Firebirds narrowed the score to 13-12 through 10 minutes of play.
• The Spartans jumped out to a six-point advantage to start the second quarter, when Trinity Cheatom's layup and Erin Leary's layup and free throw sailed through the nets to make it 18-12.
• However, UDC then went on an 8-2 streak of their own to tie up the game at 20-20 with two minutes to play in the half.
• A pair of free throws by Bailey Chapman in the final minute of play were match by a Firebirds layup to keep the scoreboard even at 22-22.
• UDC hit one of two free throws on a late STAC foul to head to the locker room up one, 23-22 at the break.
• Erin Leary led all scorers with 14 first half points for the Spartans, while Destiny Ryles picked up 11 points for the Firebirds.
• When the teams returned to the hardwood for second half action, UDC picked up four points on consecutive possessions to expand their lead to five at 27-22.
• The Spartans and Firebirds then traded baskets, but Sarah Ericson would connect from downtown to cut the deficit to just two, 29-27.
• Back and forth play continued between the sides, with Trinity Cheatom, Erin Leary and Sarah Ericson answering the call each time UDC would score.
• Tied at 35, an 11-4 run in the final 1:25 of the third quarter by UDC, made it a seven-point game, 46-39.
• Karolina Jaruseviciute cut the STAC deficit to five with a layup just before the buzzer, making it 46-41.
• STAC opened the final quarter, scoring five of the first seven points to make it a two-point game at 48-46 with eight minutes left in regulation.
• Unfortunately, the Firebirds continued to pounce on missed opportunities by the Spartans, as a 12-4 run by UDC expanded the hosts lead from two to eight with just over four minutes to play.
• A final push by the maroon and gold on a pair of Kaitlyn Watrobski threes would not be enough to rally back, as UDC would match with points of their own down the stretch to close out the game and take the conference victory.

UP NEXT:

STAC visits the College of Staten Island for a Saturday afternoon (December 9) another East Coast Conference matchup. Opening tip between the Spartans and Dolphins is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. at the CSI Sports and Recreation Center.