Senior Eva Cunningham scored a team-high 20 points in her final regular-season game in the Gallagher Center Sunday.

NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – Powered by the combined scoring total of 36 points from senior Eva Cunningham (East Aurora, N.Y./Iroquois) and sophomore Shaunna Ambrose (McKees Rock, Pa.), Niagara recorded a 60-56 victory over Manhattan College Sunday afternoon at the Gallagher Center in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference action.

Cunningham, playing in her last game at the Gallagher Center, finished with 20 points while Ambrose added 16 points as Niagara improved to 16-11 overall and 11-7 in the MAAC. The Purple Eagles will be the third seed at this week’s upcoming MAAC Tournament at HSBC Arena.

After Manhattan opened an 11-4 lead, the Purple Eagles responded with a 12-0 run of their own. Ambrose scored seven of her points during that run. Niagara broke a 20-20 tie with back-to-back three-point field goals by Cunningham and took a 28-25 halftime lead.

Niagara opened the second half with a 9-2 run after Ambrose made three-straight free throws for a 37-27 lead. Niagara kept the lead in double digits, the last being 50-40 with 7:55 remaining, until the Lady Jaspers went on a 7-2 run to make it 52-46 on a Serra Sanger basket. Sanger scored with 52 seconds left to cut Niagara’s lead to one point, 57-56. Cunningham sank three of four foul shots to round out the scoring.

Caitlin Flood led Manhattan (10-17, 6-12) with 22 points while Sanger and Aubrie Dellinger added 14 and 11 points, respectively.

Niagara’s next game will be Friday at approximately 1:45 p.m. in the MAAC Tournament against an opponent yet to be determined.