OLD WESTBURY, N.Y. (Dec. 1, 2010) - Despite a game-high 22 points and 12 rebounds from junior Cierra Baker (Windsor, Conn.), NYIT women's basketball faced a hard-fought 66-61 loss to St. Thomas Aquinas in the 2010-2011 East Coast Conference season opener. 

 

"We fought a 40-minute war and I'm proud of our student-athletes," said NYIT head coach Anthony Crocitto. "We will certainly grown and learn from this game. STAC is a fantastic team. It was good to see others on our team step up. I truly believe we are on our way."

 

Senior Alexis Tyson (North Babylon, N.Y.) and freshman Alexandra Venuto (Ossining, N.Y.) added 14 points each, with Venuto shooting a perfect 4-for-4 behind the arc and a perfect 5-for-5 from the field. Rookie Demitra Apergis (Littleton, Colo.) dished out a game-high six assists as did Baker. The Bears dropped to 1-3 on the year with the loss.

 

For the Spartans, who improved to 4-3 overall, balanced scoring was key as four players produced double-figures. Briana Sloper led the charge with 20 points. She also had seven boards.

 

NYIT claimed an early 4-0 lead with points from Baker and Rebecca Lynch (Hillsdale, N.J.). However, STAC quickly knotted the score and grabbed the advantage with a layup from Sloper. The Spartans claimed a six-point lead with 6:24 left in the first half, but the Bears chipped away and knotted the score, 19-19, on a jumper by Tyson. Sloper then gave STAC the edge once again with a layup with 2:01 on the clock. Yet, made free throws from Baker knotted the score once again, 21-21, with a little of a minute left. But it was the Spartans who had the final word in the half with a three-pointer from Theresa Dowling, 24-21.

 

The Bears kept the score tight in the opening minutes of the second half as they knotted the score and took a one-point edge, 26-25, on a layup from Baker. However, the Spartans would draw a foul and respond with an 11-2 run to claim a 35-28 advantage. STAC held onto the lead until the eighth minute when NYIT rallied to knot the score 54-54 with 4:26 remaining in regulation.

 

Venuto sparked the run at 8:27 with a layup. Baker added on two points on free throws, while Tyson registered three baskets to bring the Bears within one-point 52-51. Leane Urbancik interrupted the run with a layup for the Spartans, but Venuto nailed her fourth trey of the night to tie the game 54-54. NYIT then claimed a two-point edge with 3:26 to play on a layup from Baker but the Shpresa Liharevic answered with a three-pointer to put STAC back on top. The Spartans would remain there and win the game 66-61 on a layup from Sloper and a free throw from Dowling.

 

The Bears return to action on Saturday, Dec. 4 against the Knights of Queens College. Tip-off in the women's game is scheduled for 4 p.m. at Recreation Hall. the men's game tips at 2 p.m.