Solid Shooting Lifts St. Thomas Aquinas Over Women's Basketball, 67-61
Box Score
BROOKVILLE, N.Y. (Feb. 24, 2010) – Junior guard Janea Aiken (St. Albans, N.Y.) scored 18 points for C.W. Post but it was not enough as St. Thomas Aquinas prevailed over the Pioneers, 35-29, Wednesday evening in an East Coast Conference women's basketball contest played at the Pratt Recreation Center.
The win improves St. Thomas Aquinas to 15-11 overall and 11-9 in conference play. The loss dips C.W. Post to 18-8 overall and 13-7 in the ECC.
Sophomore forward Briana Sloper (Williston Park, N.Y.) led the game with 26 points and nine rebounds, shooting 8 of 15 from the field and converting 10 of 11 from the charity stripe.
The Spartans held the lead for most of the game until 1:11 remaining in the second half when the Pioneers used an 11-1 spurt to climb back and tied the game at 61-all when junior forward
Alyssa Lombardi (New Fairfield, Conn.) scored on a lay-in under the basket.
St. Thomas Aquinas answered back with a layup from Sloper at the 41-second mark. The Pioneers could not come up with a basket on the following possession as Aiken turned the ball over with 30 seconds remaining. The Spartans iced the game when freshman guard Bianca Kowgios (East Yonkers, N.Y.) and Sloper each converted a pair of free throws during the final 15 seconds of play to keep the Pioneers away.
In the first half, the Spartans opened the game on an 8-0 run and maintained a comfortable lead throughout the half. The Pioneers came as close as within two (26-24) with 1:46 left to play and headed to the locker room trailing the Spartans by a 31-28 count.
Sophomore guard Sylvia Davis (St. Albans, N.Y.) also had a good night for the Spartans, scoring 19 pionts and adding three rebounds and three assists.
Sophomore guard
Felicia Joyner (Lindenhurst, N.Y.) chipped in 13 points for the Pioneers and pulled down five rebounds off the glass while dishing out three assists.
St. Thomas Aquinas completed the game shooting .435 (20 of 46) from the field and converted 23 of 29 free throws. C.W. Post shot .411 (23 of 56) from field goal range and went 13-for-16 from the charity stripe. The Pioneers held a 35-29 advantage on the boards.
C.W. Post returns to action on Saturday, Feb. 27 when it plays its final regular season game at Queens College with a time off time set for 5 p.m.