Sparkill, N.Y. - The St. Thomas Aquinas College Women's Basketball team kicked off its 2024-2025 season with a 65-51 triumph over the University of Bridgeport, in the STAC Challenge held at Aquinas Hall Gymnasium in the Lower Hudson Valley.

STAC moves to 1-0 on the season, while Bridgeport slips to 0-1.

Syrita Faraj led the way for the maroon and gold, recording a double-double, with a game-high 25 points and 13 rebounds. Teammates Bailey Chapman (12 points) and Abby Jacoby (10 points) also posted double figures in scoring.

STAC shot 33.3 percent (21-63) from the field, while UB also shot 33.3 percent (20-60) from the floor.

STAC NOTES AND HIGHLIGHTS:

• Seven Spartans logged double-digit minutes in the non-conference contest. 
• Bailey Chapman and Trinity Cheatom led the maroon and gold with four assists apiece on the afternoon.
• Syrita Faraj hit 9 of her 26 field goal attempts and 7 of 9 free throws. Meanwhile, Abby Jacoby went 4-of-5 from the floor, with 2-of-3 shots falling from distance.
• Bridgeport out-rebounded STAC by a slim 47-42 margin, with Syrita Faraj grabbing a game-high 13 boards for the Spartans.
• St. Thomas Aquinas picked up 11 steals, with the Purple Knights turning the ball over on 26 separate occasions.
• The Spartans earned advantages in three team statistical categories over Bridgeport: Point off Turnovers (29-17), Second Chance Points (9-8) and Points in the Paint (28-24).
• The game featured two ties and four lead changes.
• STAC's largest lead of the game came in the final five minutes of the contest when Spartans led by 21 points, 64-43 on an Abby Jacoby layup.
• St. Thomas Aquinas held a 27-20 advantage going into the halftime locker room.
• Syrita Faraj led all scorers with 10 first half points for the Spartans.
• The maroon and gold had its best quarter in the fourth, shooting 53.3 percent (8-of-15) from the field, 60.0 percent (3-of-5) from behind the arc and 83.3 percent (5-of-6) from the charity stripe in the final 10 minutes of play.
• Syrita Faraj recorded 15 of her 25 points in the third (8) and fourth (7) quarters.

BRIDGEPORT NOTES AND HIGHLIGHTS:

• Eight Purple Knights logged double-digit minutes in the contest. 
• Shakira Hester led Bridgeport with 14 points, while teammate Niyah Whitten posted an eight-point effort.
• Hester and Mackenzie Creighton led UB with a two assists apiece on the afternoon.
• Shakira Hester went 7-for-13 from the floor, with Mackenzie Creighton hitting 2 of her 4 field goal attempts.
• Hester also grabbed a game-high 13 boards for the Purple Knights.
• Bridgeport picked up 10 steals, with the Spartans turning the ball over on 17 separate occasions.
• UB earned an advantage in one team statistical category over St. Thomas Aquinas: Bench Points (17-13).
• Bridgeport had its largest lead in the game (three points, 6-3) with just under seven minutes to play in the opening quarter.
• Shakira Hester led the Purple Knights with eight points in the opening half, while shooting 67 percent (4-of-6) from the field.

UP NEXT:

STAC will have a quick turnaround, playing American International College on day two of the STAC Challenge, Saturday, November 9. The Spartans and Yellow Jackets are set to tip-off at 4:00 p.m. inside of Aquinas Hall Gymnasium.