Senior Eva Cunningham scored a game-high 20 points Friday vs. Rider.

BUFFALO, N.Y. – For the second time since 1989-90, the Niagara University women’s basketball team will play in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Tournament semifinals after defeating Rider University, 69-46, Friday afternoon at HSBC Arena. With the win, the Purple Eagles improve to 17-11 overall and the Broncs fall to 9-20.

Senior Eva Cunningham (East Aurora, N.Y./Iroquois) led the Purple Eagles with a game-high 20 points. The scoring output was her 12th 20-plus point game of the season. Sophomore Shaunna Ambrose (McKees Rock, Pa.) added 11 points and classmate Toni Smalley (Thornville, Ohio) had 10 points. Freshman Michelle Manfredi (Jefferson Hills, Pa.) had a team-high nine rebounds.

Niagara had just a nine-point lead early in the second half before it went on a 12-0 run to take a commanding 21-point lead, 52-31. Ambrose got the run rolling when she converted four points on an intentional foul play. The Purple Eagles carried the double-digit lead to the end of the game, never having below a 17-point lead.

In the first period, Niagara used a 14-1 run in the middle of the half to take a 16-point lead, 30-14. Ambrose netted five points and sophomore Chantelle Wilson (Burlington, Ont.) four to fuel the stretch.

Bronc Becky Hower then netted five points during a quick 8-2 Rider run to make it a 10-point game with three minutes left.

Cunningham, who scored a team-high 13 first-half points, gave the Purple Eagles 13-point leads twice, the last coming on a traditional three-point play with 1:05 left. Rider scored the final basket to trail by 11, 35-24 at half.

Niagara meets cross-town rival and No. 2 seed Canisius College in the 1:30 p.m. semifinal Saturday.