Ryles Packs Stat Sheet but Firebirds Come up Short Against Spartans

SPARKHILL N.Y.- The University of the District of Columbia's women's basketball team fell to St Thomas Aquinas College 74-61, Wednesday evening at Aquinas Hall. Destiny Ryles and Latavia Jackson combined for 43 points to lead the Firebirds offensively.

Ryles posted a game-high 23 points, six steals, five rebounds, three assists, and a block. Jackson went 6-13 from the field and 7-8 from the foul line to register 20 points, while also grabbing four rebounds, three steals, two assists, and a block. Tori Williams came off the bench to grab a team-high seven rebounds. 

The Spartans opened up play going on a 9-0 run before Coach Nakpodia called a timeout to regroup. Coming off the break, Ryles knocked down a jumper from behind the arc to get the Firebirds up on the scoreboard. UDC then went on a 14-6 scoring run of their own to make it a one-point game with three minutes remaining in the quarter. The home team managed to start pulling away but Ryles was fouled on a last-minute shot attempt at the buzzer which sent her to the line where she knocked down three free throws. 

The visiting Firebirds outscored STAC 15-13 in the second quarter, with Jackson and Ryles drawing contact in the paint to get some of the Spartans Bigs into early foul trouble. UDC would trail by three going into halftime.

The tables turned for the Firebirds coming out of halftime as they picked up back-to-back fouls in the early minutes with Jackson picking up three of her own. UDC then struggled to shoot from the field in the fourth quarter with the Spartans holding them to just 13.3% while shooting at 41.2%. STAC sealed the deal with a 74-61 win over UDC. 

STAC outrebounded the Firebirds 49-31 and had more points in the paint 42-24. UDC forced the Spartans to turn over the ball 21 times leading to more points off of turnovers. 

UDC (12-14, 8-9 ECC) will host their final conference game of the regular season in a doubleheader against Mercy College on Saturday afternoon. Tip-off is set for 1:00 pm and will be live-streamed on the ECC network. Spectators will be allowed into the venue upon showing proof of vaccination.