Sophomore Toni Smalley had a team-high 12 points in a loss at Oakland Sunday.

ROCHESTER, Mich. – The Niagara University women’s basketball team (5-4) had its four-game winning streak snapped Sunday when it lost, 71-42, to Oakland University (6-3) in the ‘O’ Rena.

Senior Eva Cunningham (Iroquois, N.Y./East Aurora) and sophomore Toni Smalley (Thornville, Ohio/Sheridan) led the Purple Eagles in scoring with 12 points each. Junior Jennifer Roueche (Niwot, Colo./Niwot) had a game-high 11 rebounds and three blocks.

The Purple Eagles suffered through a six-minute scoring drought in the first half to trail 37-20 at the half. After a three-pointer by Cunningham at the 13:50 mark, Niagara didn’t score again until the 7:50 when Smalley hit her second collegiate three-pointer. During the drought, the Purple Eagles missed 10 shots contributing to its 27.6 shooting percentage in the half.

Niagara didn’t fair any better in the second half as the Golden Grizzlies pulled away by as many as 33 points on a lay-in by Leigh Tully to make it 62-29 with 4:02 remaining.

The Purple Eagles did manage a 13-4 run to close within 24 on a free throw by Roueche, but that’s as close as Niagara would get as Oakland scored four more points for the final 71-42 tally.

For the game, Niagara shot 27 percent from the field, 30 percent from the three-point arc and a season-low 50 percent from the free-throw line. Oakland shot 50 percent from the floor and forced the Purple Eagles into 23 turnovers.

The Purple Eagles return to action Dec. 28 when they host Colgate at 7 p.m. in their final home non-conference game of the season in the Gallagher Center.