* Sunday provided a pair of Western New York ECC games, both of which affect the playoff picture…
* Roberts Wesleyan stunned St. Thomas Aquinas by a 75-67 count, running their winning streak to three games and denying the Spartans a chance to bounce back after a loss on Friday at Daemen. A huge fourth quarter (35 points) propelled the Redhawks to the victory as they overcame a seven-point deficit after three periods to solidify their playoff status in the ECC. RWC held a 32-24 halftime lead but STAC dominated the third period (23-8) to flip the script. A 15-2 surge at the back end of the period gave the guests a 47-38 lead (1:35) and they took a 47-40 margin into the final stanza. STAC held the upper hand until the Redhawks finally caught them at 62 (3:02) and RWC grabbed the lead thanks to a Sara Nady (14 points, 6 assists) foul shot at the 2:54 mark, 63-62. Alexa Huertas (13 points, 7 rebounds) put the Spartans ahead for the final time (64-63) with 2:43 to play but Roberts Wesleyan scored the next seven points (71-64, :25) to go ahead for good. Taryn Wilson (18 points, 11 rebounds; 6-11 FG, 4-5 3FG), Emily Miller (15 points, 8 boards) and Tashayla Sutorius (14 points; 4-6 FG, 6-6 FT) were among the top threats for RWC along with Nady and they proved to be a better shooting outfit (46%-34% FG) on the day. Ruth Adams (19 points, 6 boards), Melissa Sadler (14 points) and Zaria Thomas (12 points) led the STAC scoring but they have now dropped back-to-back games for the first time all season.
* Daemen, coming off a key win over St Thomas Aquinas on Friday, avoided a letdown as they eased past Mercy, 79-60, to stay firmly atop the ECC. The win is #20 on the campaign for the Wildcats, making them the third team in the region (Adelphi, Sciences) to reach that plateau so far this season. The game was never very close, as Daemen put up an 18-1 run spanning the first two periods en route to a commanding 47-22 halftime bulge. The Mavericks, on a five-game slide and all but out of ECC playoff contention, were unable to threaten in the second half. Tiara Filbert (20 points, 6 boards; 6-10 FG, 2-5 3FG, 6-6 FT) and Jordan Heinold (19 points; 7-9 FG, 3-4 3FG) led the attack for the Wildcats as they feasted in points-off-turnovers (26-7), having forced eleven more than they committed (19-8). Katie Wall (19 points; 5-7 FG, 3-4 3FG, 6-6 FT), Abigail Collier (17 points; 7-9 FG, 3-3 FT) and Kellie Nudd (13 points, 5 assists) combined to create most of Mercy’s output in game that saw both teams shoot well (Daemen, 51%, Mercy 50%). The Wildcats now own a 17-game home win streak, a 12-game overall winning skein and control the destiny of the ECC’s top seed.