OAKDALE, N.Y.-  The Dowling College women’s basketball team recorded their second straight East Coast Conference win with a 63-50 victory over St. Thomas Aquinas College this afternoon at Dowling Gymnasium.  The Golden Lions improve to 2-6 on the season with at 2-1 record in ECC play.  The Spartans fall to 5-4 overall, 2-1 ECC.
 
Dowling had three Golden Lions finish in double figures with redshirt senior Nicole Caggiano posting a game high 20 points with five assists.   Junior Krstina Surlan tacked on 17 points, four assists and four steals.  Senior Christina Verrelle added 14 points with five steals and two assists. 
 
The Spartans were led by Kaitlyn McCue with 17 points and nine boards.
 
Senior Kristen McMahon broke an 8-8 score with a layup sparking a 13-2 run to go ahead 21-10 with just over six minutes left in the half.  STAC’s Alyson Brennan converted a three point play with five minutes on the clock to bring the Spartans to within eight, 23-15, but the Golden Lions knocked in 11 of the final 18 points to go into the break leading 34-22.
 
The Spartans opened the second frame with six unanswered points cutting their deficit to six, 34-28, holding the Golden Lions to within single digits over the next six minutes of play.  With 12:13 on the clock, McMahon dished to Surlan in the paint who converted a three point play stretching the DC lead back into double digits, 46-35.  After a McMahon bucket, the Spartans went on a 7-0 run inching back to within six, 48-42, but the Golden Lions held on for the 65-50 win.
 
The Golden Lions posted a 53.8% from the field, 28-52, while holding the Spartans to just 37.3%, 19-51.  Dowling took advantage of 20 STAC turnovers turning them into 37 points with a 32-20 points in the paint advantage.
 
The Golden Lions return to Dowling Gymnasium Wednesday, December 17^th as they host NYIT at 5:00 PM.