Bridgeport, Conn. - A complete defensive effort by the St. Thomas Aquinas College Women's Basketball team helped to secure a 44-39 non-conference victory over the University of Bridgeport on Tuesday evening at Harvey Hubbell Gymnasium.

STAC improves to 6-16 on the season, while Bridgeport falls to 9-9.

Abby Jacoby and Bailey Chapman posted a team-high nine points apiece for the Spartans, while Savannah Prescott and Nicole Benini led the host Purple Knights with a game-high 10 points each.

St. Thomas Aquinas shot 39.5 percent (17-43) from the field, while Bridgeport shot 22.2 percent (14-63) from the floor.

STAC NOTES AND HIGHLIGHTS:

• Seven Spartans logged double-digit minutes in the non-conference contest. 
• Delaney Finnegan led the maroon and gold with six assists apiece on the night.
• Abby Jacoby hit 3 of her 6 field goal attempts. Meanwhile, Bailey Chapman went 3-of-10 from the floor and 2-of-2 from the charity stripe.
• Bridgeport out-rebounded STAC by a 42-36 margin, with Cassidy Mahaney grabbing a team-high seven boards for the Spartans.
• St. Thomas Aquinas picked up four steals, with the Purple Knights turning the ball over on 12 separate occasions.
• The Spartans earned advantages in two team statistical categories over Bridgeport: Points in the Paint (20-14) and Fastbreak Points (2-0).
• STAC's largest lead of the game came with just under eight minutes to play in the third stanza, when the Spartans led by 19 points, 32-13, on a Delaney Finnegan layup.
• The game featured no ties and no lead changes.
• St. Thomas Aquinas led Bridgeport, 30-13, going into the halftime locker room, and shot 46.2 percent (12-26) from the field.
• Abby Jacoby led all scorers with nine first half points for the Spartans, while shooting 100.0 percent from the floor (3-of-3), beyond the arc (2-for-2) and the foul line (1-of-1).
• STAC's best shooting quarter came in the opening frame, with the maroon and gold hitting 6 of its 11 total shots for a 54.5 field goal percentage.

BRIDGEPORT NOTES AND HIGHLIGHTS:

• Seven Purple Knights logged double-digit minutes in the contest. 
• Savannah Prescott and Nicole Benini both led Bridgeport's offense with 10 points apiece.
• Jaelyn Choi led Bridgeport with three assists on the evening.
• Prescott went 4-for-18 from the floor, with Benini hitting 3-of-12 field goal attempts and 2-of-2 foul shots.
• India Lee grabbed a game-high nine boards for the Purple Knights.
• Bridgeport picked up seven steals, with the Spartans turning the ball over on 18 separate occasions.
• The Purple Knights earned advantages in two team statistical categories over St. Thomas Aquinas: Points off Turnovers (14-7) and Second Chance Points (11-0).
• Savannah Prescott led all Purple Knights' scorers at the half with six points, while shooting 28.9 percent from the floor (2-for-7), 33.3 percent from beyond the arc (1-for-3) and 50.0 percent from the free-throw line (1-for-2).
• Bridgeport's best shooting quarter came in the final frame, with the Purple Knights shooting 31.3 percent from the field (5-16) and 100.0 percent from the charity stripe (4-4).

UP NEXT:

STAC returns to ECC play, hosting Roberts Wesleyan University on Friday, February 6 at Aquinas Hall Gymnasium. Tip-off between the Spartans and Redhawks is set for 5:00 p.m.