Senior Eva Cunningham became Niagara's career leader in assists with a game-high nine Wednesday.

NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – Canisius used a 15-4 run to open the second half as the Golden Griffins handed Niagara a 71-62 loss Wednesday night at the Gallagher Center in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference action.

The loss snapped Niagara’s six-game overall win streak and seven-game home streak. Canisius was the last team to beat Niagara in the Gallagher Center as the Golden Griffins downed Niagara 79-68 on Feb. 29, 2004.

The Purple Eagles, now 11-5 overall and 6-1 in the MAAC, got 10 first-half points from sophomore Shaunna Ambrose (McKees Rock, Pa.) and held a 30-29 halftime lead. Senior guard Eva Cunningham (East Aurora/Iroquois) became Niagara’s all-time career assist leader when she recorded an assist with 5:16 to play in the first half on a three-point field goal by sophomore guard Chantelle Wilson (Burlington, Ont.). The first half featured six ties and the Purple Eagles sank five three-pointers.

In the second half, it was all Canisius, which now has won six-straight games and is 10-6 overall and 6-1 in league play. The Golden Griffins scored the half’s first seven points while Niagara struggled, missing its first six field-goal attempts and made only two of its first 14 second-half shots from the floor.

Canisius pushed its lead to 11 points, 50-39, on an inside basket by Megan Lyte, who snared a career-best 14 rebounds to go with 21 points, with 8:59 remaining.

Sophomore forward Toni Smalley (Thornville, Ohio) recorded her second career double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Ambrose finished with 20 points while Cunningham added 15 points and a game-high nine assists. She now has 495 career assists.

Niagara will travel to Baltimore, Md., to play at Loyola Sunday 2 p.m.