Washington, D.C. - Despite a late fourth quarter surge, which forced overtime, the St. Thomas Aquinas College Women's Basketball team dropped a 72-62 decision to the University of the District of Columbia on Wednesday evening at the Dr. Edwin Bancroft Henderson Sports Complex in our Nation's Capital.

STAC slips to 1-6 overall and 0-1 in ECC play, while UDC moves to 3-4 and 1-0.

Cassidy Mahaney led the maroon and gold offense with 18 points, while Trinity Cheatom (14 points), Bailey Chapman (10 points) and Abby Jacoby (10 points) also scored in double digits. Meanwhile, Nhaikyia Smith led all Firebirds players in scoring with 25 points of her own.

STAC shot 33.9 percent (20-59) from the field, while UDC shot 45.8 percent (22-48) from the floor.

STAC NOTES AND HIGHLIGHTS:

• Nine Spartans logged double-digit minutes in the contest.
• Cassidy Mahaney and Abby Jacoby led the maroon and gold with four assists apiece on the evening.
• Mahaney hit 5 of her 14 field goal attempts, with 4-of-9 shots sailing through the nets from long range. She also hit 4-of-5 free throws. Trinity Cheatom went 4-for-5 from the floor and 6-of-7 from the foul line.
• District of Columbia out-rebounded STAC by a 42-29 margin, with Bailey Chapman grabbing a team-high six boards for the Spartans.
• St. Thomas Aquinas picked up eight steals, with the Firebirds turning the ball over on 17 separate occasions.
• The Spartans earned one advantage in the team statistical categories over District of Columbia: Bench Points (20-8).
• St. Thomas Aquinas held its largest lead of the game (three points) just seconds in the game, 3-0, on a Bailey Chapman three-point jump shot.
• The game featured six ties and seven lead changes.
• St. Thomas Aquinas trailed District of Columbia, 29-27 at the half and shot 33.3 percent (8-for-24) from the field, 38.5 percent (5-for-13) from three-point and 75.0 percent (6-for-8) from the foul line.
• Cassidy Mahaney led all Spartans' scorers with 10 first half points, while shooting 33.3 percent (2-for-6) from the field, 40.0 percent (2-for-5) from beyond the arc and 80.0 percent (4-for-5) from the foul line.
• St. Thomas Aquinas' best shooting quarter came in the second frame, with the Spartans shooting 50.0 percent (6-12) from the field, 50.0 percent (4-8) from three and 75.0 percent (6-8) from the foul line. 

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA NOTES AND HIGHLIGHTS:

• Six Firebirds logged double-digit minutes in the contest. 
• Nhaikyia Smith paced District of Columbia's offense with 25 points, while teammates Kristian Harris (16 points) and Dashani Coleman (14 points) also scored in double digits.
• Harris also led District of Columbia with seven assists on the night.
• Smith went 8-for-12 from the floor, 2-of-3 from long range and 7-of-12 from the free-throw line, with Harris hitting 6-of-10 field goal attempts and 4-of-6 foul shots.
• Aiyana Ellis grabbed a game-high 13 boards for the Firebirds.
• District of Columbia picked up five steals, with the Spartans turning the ball over on 16 separate occasions.
• The Firebirds earned advantages in three team statistical categories over St. Thomas Aquinas: Points Off Turnovers (18-12), Second Chance Points (9-8) and Points in the Paint (32-18).
• District of Columbia had its largest lead of the game (12 points) with just over 30 seconds to play in the first quarter, 17-5, on an Aiyana Ellis jump shot.
• Kristian Harris led all Firebirds' scorers at the half with 10 points, while shooting 71.4 percent (5-of-7) from the floor.
• District of Columbia's best shooting quarter came in the extra session, with the Firebirds shooting 100.0 percent (4-4) from the field, 100.0 percent (1-1) from three and 90.0 percent (9-10) from the foul line.

UP NEXT:

STAC hosts the College of Staten Island on Saturday, December 6 at Aquinas Hall Gymnasium. Please note the special start time of 4:00 p.m. between the Spartans and Dolphins.