Sparkill, N.Y. - The St. Thomas Aquinas College Women's Basketball team snapped its three-game winless streak on Friday evening by downing their East Coast Conference rivals from Daemen University, 70-59, at Aquinas Hall.

STAC improves to 8-8 overall and 3-2 in ECC play, while Daemen slips to 9-5 and 4-1.

Sarah Ericson led the way for the maroon and gold, recording a game-high 30 points, while teammates Erin Leary (14 points) and Bailey Chapman (12 points) also posted double figures in scoring.

STAC shot 42.4 percent (25-59) from the field, 45.5 percent (10-22) from downtown and 90.9 percent (10-11) from the charity stripe, while Daemen shot just 33.8 percent (22-65) from the floor and 63.6 percent (7-11) from the foul line.

STAC NOTES AND HIGHLIGHTS:

• Six Spartans logged double-digit minutes in the contest. 
• Sarah Ericson led the maroon and gold with six assists on the evening.
• Ericson hit 10 of her 21 field goal attempts, with three going in from beyond the arc. She was also a perfect 7-for-7 from the foul line. Meanwhile, Bailey Chapman went 4-for-7 from the floor, with all of her buckets sailing through the nets from distance.
• STAC out-rebounded Daemen by a 43-37 margin, with Erin Leary grabbing a team-high nine boards for the Spartans.
• St. Thomas Aquinas picked up eight steals, with the Wildcats turning the ball over on 17 separate occasions.
• The Spartans earned advantages in two team statistical categories over Daemen: Second Chance Points (12-5) and Points in the Paint (26-20).
• The game featured one tie and six lead changes.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• STAC returned to Aquinas hall for the first time in 2024 and ran out to an early 9-2 lead, as Trinity Cheatom hit from downtown and Bailey Chapman connected on back-to-back three-point buckets.
• A 5-0 run by Daemen brought them back with in two at 9-7 with just under four minutes to play in the opening stanza.
• Back and forth scoring between the sides kept the margin on the scoreboard close. Joline Raposo's jumper, along with a pair of layups from Erin Leary and Sarah Ericson kept the Spartans in the lead at 15-12 through the first 10 minutes of action.
• The visiting Wildcats would open the second quarter by scoring six of the first eight points to jump in front for the first time in the game, 18-17.
• Down 23-22, STAC would score the next four points courtesy of consecutive jump shots by Karolina Jaruseviciute to flip the scoreboard back in favor of the hosts, 26-23.
• Two free throws by Sarah Ericson would put the Spartans ahead by three (28-25) at the halftime break.
• Bailey Chapman led all scorers with nine first half points for STAC, while Alahna Paige recorded seven points for Daemen.
• Sarah Ericson opened the third quarter by knocking down a three pointer and a jumper to help the Spartans maintain a pair of six point advantages early on in the frame.
• Daemen would cut their deficit to just one (37-36) with two and half minutes to play in the quarter, but a clutch Erin Leary trey would put STAC back ahead by four at 40-36.
• The sides would exchange buckets over the final two minutes, with the Wildcats eventually knotting the score at 40-40, but Bailey Chapman would come through once again with monster three to put the hosts back ahead.
• One final jump shot by Daemen would bring them within one (43-42), as the teams entered the final stanza.
• It was the Sarah Ericson show in the fourth quarter, as the junior guard outscored Daemen 19-17. Ericson went on a personal 10-0 run early with a pair of jump shots and a pair of buckets from beyond the arc to balloon the STAC advantage to 53-42 with under seven minutes to play in regulation.
• Erin Leary (5pts), Sarah Ericson (9pts) and Trinity Cheatom (3pts) made the Wildcats night even more miserable down the stretch by continuing to put the ball in the basket, while the Spartans defense kept Daemen's scorers in check by grabbing rebounds, forcing turnovers and taking charges.

UP NEXT:

STAC closes out its weekend battle between Western New York and the Lower Hudson Valley, when D'Youville University pays a visit to Aquinas Hall on Sunday, January 21. The Spartans and Saints tip-off at 1:00 p.m. in Sparkill.