OLD WESTBURY, N.Y. (Feb. 5, 2011) – Junior Cierra Baker (Windsor, Conn.) posted a game-high 19 points and two other Bears registered double-figures but it was not enough as NYIT women’s basketball fell 62-52 to St. Thomas Aquinas Saturday afternoon.

 

Baker also grabbed a team-best seven rebounds for the Bears, who dropped to 6-14 on the season and 4-11 in East Coast Conference action. Sophomore Rebecca Lynch (Hillsdale, N.J.) added 16 points for NYIT, while rookie Demitra Apergis (Littleton, Colo.) tallied 10 points.

 

Bianca Kowgios tied the game-high 19 points to lead the Spartans to victory. She also pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds for a double-double. Briana Sloper added 15 points for STAC, who improved to 17-5 overall and 13-2 in league play; and Shpresa Liharevic registered 13 points.

 

The Spartans controlled the scoreboard through the middle of the second half, holding a 26-20 advantage at half time and climbing to a 37-26 lead at the 14:29 mark in the second half after Kim Vareles converted a three-point play. From there, NYIT rallied for a 10-3 run to bring the game within one point, 40-39, on a layup from Baker at 9:56.

 

The game remained tight for the next three minutes before the Bears claimed their only lead of the game, 47-46, on a jumper from Apergis at 5:46. However, the Spartans responded with a three-pointer from Kowgios to take back the lead for good. Another STAC trey and a series of free throws from Sloper and Kowgios brought the game to a close, 62-52.

 

The Bears return to action on Wednesday, Feb. 9 with they host the Knights of Queens College. Tip-off is slated for 5 p.m. at Recreation Hall.