Senior Ann Mimm led Niagara with 17 points.

NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – After falling behind 8-0 and then making only three of its first 16 field goal attempts, the Niagara University women’s basketball recovered to defeat Army, 71-53, Tuesday night at the Gallagher Center in front of 619 fans. The win enables Niagara to extend its home-court win streak to 16 consecutive games.

Fueling Niagara’s first-half comeback was senior Ann Mimm (Girard, Pa.), who scored 12 of her team-high 17 points in the first half. Mimm hit a three-point field goal from the top of the key to bring the Purple Eagles within one, 18-17, before hitting another three-pointer from the corner to tie the game, 20-20.

Colleen Toetz (Sr., Parma, Ohio) then gave the Purple Eagles their first lead, 23-20, with a three-point field goal. Eva Cunningham (Jr., East Aurora, N.Y.) scored Niagara’s final five points to give it a 30-24 halftime lead. Niagara made 10 of its final 21 shots from the floor and forced nine Army turnovers in the first half to enable the comeback. Army finished with 17 turnovers.

Niagara then built a 42-31 lead with 13:14 to play before holding Army scoreless for the next seven minutes. During that time, the Purple Eagles built a 57-31 lead and coasted to the win.

Toetz finished with 13 points, eight rebounds and three assists. She has scored in double figures in all nine games this season.

Cunningham finished with 12 points and a game-high two blocked shots. Jessica Kemp (Sr., Niagara Falls, Ont.) had three steals and eight rebounds for Niagara.

Army was led by Katie Macfarlane (Clarence, N.Y.) as she scored 18 points and grabbed 10 rebounds

Niagara, now 6-3, plays at St. Francis (Pa.) Jan. 3.