Sparkill, N.Y. - A strong second half defensive performance, combined with timely scoring, allowed St. Thomas Aquinas College Women's Basketball team to rally for a 68-59 come from behind win over Roberts Wesleyan University on Sunday afternoon at Aquinas Hall.

STAC improves to 11-4 overall and 4-1 in ECC play, while Roberts Wesleyan falls to 2-10 and 1-3.

Karolina Jaruseviciute led the Spartans with 16 points, while teammates Sarah Ericson (15 points & 12 rebounds) and Erin Leary (13 points) also scored in double-figures.

STAC shot 36.4 percent from the field (24-66) and 42.9 percent from three (9-21), while Roberts Wesleyan shot 36.7 percent (22-60) from the floor.

STAC NOTES AND HIGHLIGHTS:

• Eight Spartans recorded double-digit minutes in the contest. 
• Alexa Huertas led the maroon and gold with five assists on the day.
• Karolina Jaruseviciute made 7 of her 15 field goal attempts, while Sarah Ericson and Erin Leary both went 4-for-9 from the floor.
• STAC out rebounded Roberts Wesleyan 46-38, with Sarah Ericson grabbing a game-high 12 boards.
• St. Thomas Aquinas picked up three steals, with the Redhawks turning the ball over on 16 separate occasions.
• The Spartans earned advantages in five team statistical categories over Roberts Wesleyan: Points off Turnovers (16-14), Second Chance Points (14-5), Points in the Paint (28-18), Fastbreak Points (2-0) and Bench Points (22-18).
• The game featured three ties and two lead changes.
• STAC held Roberts Wesleyan to just 16 total points in the second half.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Roberts Wesleyan raced out to a 10-0 lead just 3:27 into the contest.
• A timeout and some pointed instructions by the STAC coaching staff, gave the maroon and gold some motivation to go on a 9-0 run of their own to trail by just one (10-9).
• Back and forth scoring between the teams for the remainder of the quarter kept the Spartan deficit to single digits (8), with the visitors leading 23-15 through the first 10 minutes of action.
• Trailing 26-17 early in the second quarter, Karolina Jaruseviciute, Sarah Ericson and Kaitlyn Watrobski combined to bring STAC back within one once again, 26-25.
• After a three minute scoring dry spell by both squads, the Redhawks put on an offensive push in the remaining 4:49 before halftime, scoring 17 of the final 23 points in the stanza to lead 43-31 at the break.
• Karolina Jaruseviciute paced the Spartans offense with eight first-half points, while Danielle DiCintio led all scorers with 11 points.
• When the teams returned to the floor for second half action, it was Sarah Ericson who struck first with a trey to cut the margin to nine (43-34).
• A 13-4 streak by the Spartans, capped by Alexa Huertas' layup with 2:15 to play in the third quarter, tied the score at 47-47. Karolina Jaruseviciute, Julia Reggio, Sarah Ericson and Huertas were the offensive catalysts, while strong defensive play by several players put the Redhawks on their heels.
• Julia Reggio's jumper with 1:15 left in the stanza gave STAC its first lead of the day, 49-47. However, it would be short-lived as a Roberts Wesleyan basket in the final half minute of play tied the score at 49-49, which held up to the third quarter buzzer.
• A quick bucket by the visitors, had them up two (51-49) to start the final period, but Erin Leary (6pts) and Karolina Juruseviciute (4pts) combined for 10 of the next 12 points scored over a 2:47 span, to put STAC up 59-53 with 5:46 remaining in regulation.
• Key buckets by Melissa Alifano and Trinity Cheatom expanded the Spartans lead to 10 (63-53), forcing Roberts Wesleyan to call a timeout.
• One last run by the Redhawks was snuffed out by Erin Leary and Sarah Ericson, as they hit five important free throws down the stretch to hold off the furious rally attempt and pick up the conference triumph.

UP NEXT: 

St. Thomas Aquinas College faces off with Mercy College on Wednesday, January 8 (5:30 p.m.) at Aquinas Hall.