Senior Colleen Toetz led Niagara with 26 points in a win over UB Saturday.

NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – Colleen Toetz and Eva Cunningham combined for 51 points to power Niagara to an 87-75 non-conference win over the University at Buffalo Saturday at the Gallagher Center.

After UB opened a 6-0 lead, Niagara ran off seven-straight points and never gave up the lead. Toetz (Sr., Parma, Ohio) scored 18 of her team-high 26 points in the first half as the Purple Eagles pulled away to a 19-point lead, 38-19, after two foul shots by Cunningham (Jr., East Aurora, N.Y.) with 2:50 remaining in the first half. Niagara forced UB into 12 first-half turnovers and 33.3 percent shooting (10 of 30). Cunningham finished with 25 points, including a 15 of 19 performance from the free-throw line.

In the second half, UB kept clawing away at the Purple Eagles but could only come within seven points, 71-64, with 2:27 remaining. The Bulls’ comeback was fueled by the inside play of Kim Kilpela and Jessica Kochendorfer as they combined for 38 of the Bulls’ 52 second-half points. Kochendorfer finished with a game-high 27 points while Kilpela had 26 points and 15 rebounds.

With the Bulls within seven, Niagara answered with a three-point field goal by freshman Chantelle Wilson to take a 10-point lead. Wilson finished with a career-high 11 points. While Toetz was the Purple Eagles’ offensive threat in the first half, Cunningham took the second-half honors by netting 19 points.

Niagara, which improved to 3-2, iced the game by making all 12 of its foul shots in the last minute.

The Purple Eagles play at Saint Bonaventure Tuesday at 7 p.m.