SPARKILL, N.Y. – A first-half offensive flurry by Saint Thomas Aquinas College was too much for the LIU Post women's basketball program to overcome on Saturday, Feb. 9 as the Pioneers fell to the Spartans, 85-65 in East Coast Conference play at Aquinas Hall Gymnasium.
 
Graduate student Sasha Patterson led the Pioneers with 15 points and 14 rebounds as she collected her league-best 14th double-double of the season. Patterson finished 6-of-8 (.750) from the field and 3-for-4 (.750) at the free-throw line. Senior Shannon Doyle added 15 points and junior Asia Turner knocked down four three-point field goals to net 12 points. Redshirt-junior Taylah Hudson dished out six assists on the day.
 
The Spartans had an extremely efficient day on offense, shooting 54-percent (33-61) from the field while holding the Pioneers to 35-percent (22-63) shooting. The Green and Gold suffered a -9 margin in the turnover department, creating 22 turnovers to just 13 by the Spartans, leading to 22 points off turnovers for Saint Thomas Aquinas. The Spartans also held a 20-10 advantage in assists, led by a seven-assist effort from Chelsea Murphy.
 
A 27-point opening quarter for Saint Thomas Aquinas set the pace for the contest. After leading by 11 points (27-16) at the first break, the Spartans continued to roll and extended the lead to 25 points (47-22) at the halftime break.
 
The Pioneers clawed back during the third quarter, outscoring the Spartans 28-21 and cut the deficit to 13 points during the fourth quarter before the Spartans used a 15-2 run to put the game out of reach for good.
 
LIU Post returns to action on Friday, Feb. 15 when they travel to western New York to take on second-place Daemen College in a key ECC battle at Lumsden Gymnasium.