Philadelphia, Pa. – The Le Moyne College women's basketball team earned its first NCAA Championships victory by defeating St. Thomas Aquinas College, 55-43, on Friday night in the first round of the NCAA Championships at the University of the Sciences' Bobby Morgan Arena.

The Dolphins, who made their second NCAA appearance, advance to the East Region semifinals and will face top-seeded USciences on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. The teams met in the second game of the season last year at USciences' conference challenge and the Devils rallied in the fourth quarter for a 73-67 win.

Junior guard McKayla Roberts (North Syracuse, N.Y./Cicero-North Syracuse) led three Dolphins in double figures with 15 points, including 13 in the first half, while adding five rebounds and three assists. With her first three-pointer of the game, which came at the 7:37 mark of the second quarter, Roberts passed Gold Wave Hall of Fame member Kim Black '93 for the most career three-pointers made in the program's history with her 202nd. Freshman forward Jenna Zimmerman (Adams, N.Y./South Jefferson) registered a double-double of 11 points and 11 rebounds, while adding three blocks. Redshirt sophomore guard Liz Millea (Cooperstown, N.Y./Cooperstown) posted 10 points, including eight in the third quarter. Graduate student forward Corinne Poitevien (Bardonia, N.Y./Paramus Catholic (N.J.)) pulled down a game-high 14 rebounds.

The Spartans also had three players score in double digits. Emily Preston led the team with 13 points, while adding eight rebounds and four assists. Ruth Adams and Zaria Thomas each posted 10 points.

After St. Thomas Aquinas scored the first basket of the game, the Dolphins scored nine straight points. Senior guard Madison Purcell (Clifton Park, N.Y./Catholic Central) started the scoring, Roberts followed with a lay-up, Zimmerman recorded a three-point play and Poitevien capped the streak with a lay-up.

The Spartans scored four of the last six points to get within 11-6 after one quarter of play.

Following four points by Adams to get the Spartans within 13-10 with 8:00 left in the second quarter, Roberts made a three-pointer and a jumper in the paint around a STAC basket to push Le Moyne's lead back to six.

After St. Thomas Aquinas made five free throws around another three-pointer by Roberts to close within 21-17 with 3:01 to go in the half, the Dolphins scored seven of the last eight points in the half to take a 28-18 lead at the intermission. Roberts scored three points over two possessions, Poitevien hit a jumper in the paint and then Zimmerman had a tip-in at the buzzer.

Preston and Adams scored the first four points of the second half before the Dolphins scored five straight points. Freshman guard Erin Fouracre (Loudonville, N.Y./Colonie Central) made a lay-up and Millea followed with a conventional three-point play.

Thomas hit a three-pointer to get the Spartans within 36-27 with 2:11 left in the third quarter, but the Dolphins scored the final four points of the quarter for their largest lead of the game. Poitevien made a lay-up and then Millea converted a jump shot with 15 seconds left for a 40-27 lead.

The Spartans scored the first six points of the fourth quarter to cut their deficit to 40-33 with 8:23 to go. Thomas made a three-pointer and Preston followed with a conventional three-point play.

The teams traded 4-0 runs over the next three minutes before Millea made a foul shot and Zimmerman converted a put-back lay-up for a double-digit lead with 5:03.

St. Thomas Aquinas scored the game's next four points over a stretch of 4:10 to get within six.

Poitevien answered with a lay-up and Millea hit a foul shot with 30 seconds left to push the lead back to nine.

Preston made two foul shots with 23 seconds left to get the Spartans within 50-43, but they wouldn't score again.

Poitevien (1), Zimmerman (2) and Roberts (2) closed out the game's scoring from the foul line over the last 20 seconds.