Senior Ann Mimm was one of three Purple Eagles in double figures in scoring vs. Manhattan Sunday.

NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – The Niagara University women’s basketball team (14-7, 8-4) scored 18 of the game’s final 20 points to pick up a 65-49 win over Manhattan (8-13, 4-8) Sunday afternoon at the Gallagher Center in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play.

With the score tied at 47, junior Eva Cunningham (East Aurora/Iroquois) drove the lane and was fouled. She made the free throw to complete the three-point play and give the Purple Eagles a 50-47 lead with 7:13 remaining. That was all Niagara would need as Manhattan would only make one of its next 11 shots and commit five turnovers in the rest of the game.

While it was Manhattan’s offense that disappeared in the second half, Niagara’s offense struggled in the first 14 minutes. The Purple Eagles trailed 28-13 with 6:14 to play in the first half as Manhattan made 11 of 19 field goals and Niagara was 6 of 17. Freshman Chantelle Wilson (Burlington, Ont.) started the Purple Eagles’ comeback with a drive and layup before converting an offensive rebound for a two points. Cunningham and freshman Jessi Tomasin (Hamilton, Ont.) combined to make three consecutive three-point field goals before Tomasin knocked in two foul shots to bring Niagara within three points, 33-30 at halftime.

Niagara opened the second half by scoring nine of the first 11 points to take a 39-35 lead on a basket by senior Colleen Toetz (Parma, Ohio) with 16:42 to play.

Rosalee Mason, who had a game-high 19 points and 13 rebounds, had a three-point play to give Manhattan a 40-39 with 12:16 remaining. Niagara, which went 6:50 in the second half without a field goal, tied the game, 47-47, on senior Ann Mimm’s (Girard, Pa.) three-point play at 7:49. After Manhattan missed a shot, Niagara took possession, setting up Cunninhgam for her drive, layup and free throw.

Toetz finished with a team-high 15 points to go with four assists while Cunningham scored 14 points. Mimm scored all 12 of her points in the second half.

Niagara returns to action Wednesday when it plays cross-town rival Canisius College at 7 p.m. in the Koessler Center on the Canisius campus.