Waterbury, CT – Amaya Santiago came in with a spark off the bench in the third quarter for the Post University women's basketball team, leading the Eagles to a 54-49 win over Saint Thomas Aquinas College (STAC) in a non-conference game at the Drubner Center on Saturday afternoon.

With the Eagles trailing 31-23 with 6:31 remaining in the third quarter, Santiago came into the game and immediately hit a three to cut the deficit. From there, she would score the next seven – ten straight points in total – to give the Eagles a 33-31 lead. The last of those points came on a three-pointer with 3:58 remaining.

Post trailed by just one – 36-35 - heading into the fourth.

In the fourth, the Eagles and Spartans traded the lead seven times until a three-pointer from Tijanae Simmons put the Eagles up 48-44 with 4:40 left.

The Eagles would never give up the lead as Lauren Murphy helped put some distance between the two teams with a three with 2:35 left to put Post up, 51-44. The Eagles allowed just two more field goals the rest of the way, and closed out the game going 3-for-4 from the free throw in the final minute.

Post took a 17-12 lead after the first quarter, led by Simmons, who hit two three-pointers during the first ten minutes. Murphy and Jamie Waldron also added five points in the quarter.

The Spartans led 24-19 going into the half, giving up just two points to the Eagles.

Murphy led the Eagles (3-1) with 13 points while Simmons had 11.

Post outrebounded the Spartans, 46-32 with Waldron, Kiara Eubanks and Saule Kaupyte leading the way with seven apiece.

The Eagles have now won the last two games against STAC (3-1) and lead the all-time series, 2-1.
Sarah Ericson led the Spartans with 20 points.

Up next, the Eagles host D'Youville on Nov. 22 at 5:30 p.m.