Senior Eva Cunningham had a team-high 22 points Sunday vs. Iona.

NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – The Niagara University women’s basketball team picked up a 78-65 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference victory over Iona Sunday afternoon at the Gallagher Center. The win was the Purple Eagles’ sixth-straight overall and seventh consecutive at home.

Senior guard Eva Cunningham (East Aurora/Iroquois) led Niagara (11-4, 6-0) with 22 points. Cunningham, who scored 16 of those points in the first half, now ranks fifth all-time with 1,482 career points. She added a game-high seven assists and now ranks second in all-time career assists at Niagara with 486, one behind Sheryl Klick’s 487.

Sophomores Shaunna Ambrose (McKees Rock, Pa.) and Chantelle Wilson (Burlington, Ont.) added 17 and 14 points, respectively. Wilson sank all four of her three-point field goal attempts in the contest.

Iona (3-12, 1-5) opened a 7-4 lead before the Purple Eagles went on a 12-0 run for a 16-7 lead. Ambrose and Cunningham each contributed five points during that stretch.

Niagara then pushed the lead to 42-24 on a Wilson three-pointer with 3:32 to play in the first half. Her shot capped an 11-4 run.

Ambrose scored to give Niagara a 57-35 lead with 15:27 remaining but the Gaels would not go away. Iona cut the lead to 10 points, 67-57, on a Lauren DeFalco three-pointer with 6:16 to play. Iona came within seven points, on two free throws by Melissa Yeagley with 2:08 left but Cunningham and freshman Michelle Manfredi (Jefferson Hills, Pa.) each sank two free throws and Wilson made a layup to preserve the win.

Iona was led by Meg Abele’s 23 points.

The Purple Eagles will face Canisius Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the Gallagher Center.