Bloomfield, N.J. - The St. Thomas Aquinas College Women's Basketball team earned its fourth consecutive victory on Friday evening by defeating Bloomfield College, 65-52 on the road in Essex County, New Jersey.

STAC moves to 9-2 overall, while Bloomfield falls to 1-8 on the year.

Sarah Ericson led the way for the Spartans, recording 19 points, while Erin Leary posted a double-double, scoring 18 points and grabbing 10 rebounds.

STAC shot 34.4 percent from the field (22-64), while Bloomfield shot 33.3 percent (19-57) from the floor.

STAC NOTES AND HIGHLIGHTS:

• Eight different Spartans recorded double-digit minutes in the contest. 
• Erin Leary led STAC with seven assists on the evening.
• Sarah Ericson made 6 of her 15 field goal attempts, with 4 of 9 coming from behind the arc. Meanwhile, Leary went 6-of-15 from the floor.
• STAC out rebounded Bloomfield 44-41 in 40 minutes of action, with Erin Leary posting a game-high 10 boards for the maroon and gold.
• St. Thomas Aquinas picked up eight steals in the contest, with Bloomfield turning the ball over on 17 separate occasions.
• The game featured two ties and four lead changes.
• Alexa Huertas returned to the hardwood, following an injury, to tally six points in her season debut.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• A see-saw opening five minutes had both the Spartans and Bears leading on multiple occasions, before Bloomfield extended its advantage by three at 14-11.
• The teams traded baskets in the over the final 3:49 of the first quarter to keep the hosts in the lead, 16-13 at the end of the first quarter.
• STAC opened the second stanza on an 8-0 run to pull ahead 21-16, with Joline Raposo, Sarah Ericson and Erin Leary all sinking shots.
• Ahead by six (24-18), the Spartans would see the Bears fight their way back into the game, getting within three on two occasions before the break, but the visitors would continue to lead 28-25 at the break.
• Sarah Ericson paced the Spartans offense with 13 first-half points, while Saja Alston posted seven points for the Bears.
• Following the break, the maroon and gold quickly got back to work, recording 10 of the first 13 points of the new half to increase their advantage to 10 points, 38-28.
• Bloomfield would once again claw back into the contest with a 10-2 run of their own to only trail by two, 40-38.
• The Spartans closed the third quarter with a Kaitlyn Watrobski free-throw and an Erin Leary jumper, giving themselves a smidge breathing room, 43-38.
• Alexa Huertas opened the final frame with layup, followed by a Kaitlyn Watrobski trey to make it 48-38, but Bloomfield answered with four straight points to cut their deficit to just six (48-42) with 6:13 left to play.
• A 10-2 streak by the Spartans over the next three and a half minutes increased their lead to 14 at 58-44.
• One final run by Bloomfield would easily be countered by STAC, with key points coming from Angelique Holguin, Erin Leary, Julia Reggio and Liliana Kramer down the stretch to preserve the double-digit victory.

UP NEXT:

STAC looks to run its current win-streak to five games, when they host the University of Bridgeport in a matinee game at Aquinas Hall on Monday, December 19. Opening tip between the Spartans and Purple Knights is set for 1:00 p.m.