SPARKILL, N.Y. — On Friday, D'Youville defeated St. Thomas Aquinas, 71-38, at Aquinas Hall, controlling the game with a dominant third quarter in which they outscored the hosts 24-6. D'Youville's defense forced 20 turnovers, converting them into 18 points, and capitalized on their long-range shooting, hitting 13 three-pointers. STAC managed only two successful shots from beyond the arc and struggled offensively throughout the matchup.
D'Youville opened the first quarter by blocking a layup attempt from the Spartans, setting a defensive tone early in the game.
Megan Fedor (Elmira, N.Y. / Elmira) scored a layup at 4:43, assisted by
Morgan Giancaterino (Orchard Park, N.Y. / Sacred Heart Academy), to tie the game at 2-2.
Xanthippi Karatasiou (Katerini, Greece / Kontariotissa) later drained a 3-pointer at 2:13, giving D'Youville a brief lead.
Molly O'Toole (Rochester, N.Y. / Aquinas Institute) connected on another 3-pointer with 36 seconds remaining, assisted by
Aliviya Vallone Russell (Buffalo, N.Y. / Cardinal O'Hara), cutting the deficit to one. The quarter ended with D'Youville trailing 9-8.
D'Youville surged ahead in the second quarter with a decisive series of three-point plays led by O'Toole, who knocked down three consecutive 3-pointers starting at 3:36. Fedor consistently facilitated these opportunities, providing key assists during the run. Vallone Russell added to the momentum with her own 3-pointer at 2:17, extending the lead. The period concluded with D'Youville leading 28–22 over the Spartans.
D'Youville dominated the third quarter, opening with Vallone Russell's 3-pointer at 9:46, assisted by
Alyssa Neumann (Silverdale, Wash. / Central Kitsap). This set the tone for a strong offensive showing, where they made nine baskets, including five from beyond the arc. Fedor contributed significantly with a 3-pointer at 7:18, assisted by Giancaterino, and Neumann added a layup to extend the lead.
Defensively, D'Youville was effective, limiting STAC to only three field goals and forcing five turnovers. Neumann's defensive efforts included two key blocks, helping D'Youville maintain momentum throughout the period. The quarter ended with a commanding 24-6 run, putting D'Youville ahead 52-28.
D'Youville maintained control in the fourth quarter by executing a strong offensive push, highlighted by Giancaterino's layup at 8:06 and a 3-pointer from O'Toole at 7:32, assisted by Fedor. The team capitalized on turnovers, with
Allie Hall (Rochester, N.Y. / Bishop Kearney) and O'Toole each swiping a steal that thwarted the Spartans' scoring opportunities. D'Youville outscored STAC 19-10 in the final quarter, leading to a decisive victory as the game concluded with a final score of 71-38.
O'Toole led the offensive charge with 20 points, converting six 3-pointers and adding a steal. Vallone Russell scored 16 points and provided four assists, effectively facilitating the offense. Fedor contributed across the board with seven assists, eight rebounds, and two steals. Giancaterino added 13 points, making five field goals and collecting four assists.
Up Next
The Saints continue on in ECC Conference play as they take on Mercy University at 12:00 PM on Sunday, December 14th in Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.
