Freshman Erika Harris had a career-high 16 points in Niagara's win over Siena Saturday.

NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – Freshman guard Erika Harris (Gahanna, Ohio) scored a career-high 16 points to lift the Niagara University women’s basketball team (2-11, 1-3) to a 61-57 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference win over Siena College (6-7, 2-2) Saturday afternoon at the Gallagher Center.

The Purple Eagles scored five of the game’s last six points to record their first conference win of the season and snap a nine-game losing streak.

After Siena took a 26-18 lead with 5:17 to play in the first half on a Katelyn Dooley three-point field goal, Harris led the Purple Eagles on a 12-4 run. Harris scored six of her points during that run, including a short jump shot in the lane with 11 seconds remaining.

In the second half, sophomore forward Michelle Manfredi (Jefferson Hills, Pa.) scored four points as Niagara used a 12-3 run to take a 42-33 lead with 16:10 left. Siena responded with a 12-3 run of its own to tie the score, 45-45, when Dooley sank two fouls shots with 9:59 to play.

The Saints opened a five-point lead, 50-45, before a Harris jump shot tied the score at 52-52 with 3:19 remaining. Junior guard Jessi Tomasin (Hamilton, Ont.) sank two free throws with 73 seconds left to give the Purple Eagles a 58-56 lead. Tomasin scored a season-high 15 points in a reserve role.

Siena’s Lauren Surber sank one of two foul shots to make it 58-57 with 46.8 seconds left. Manfredi sank one of two free throws while senior center Jennifer Roueche (Niwot, Colo.) made two free throws with 13.3 seconds remaining to ice the win.

Niagara plays at Rider Jan. 12 at 7 p.m. at Alumni Gym in Lawrenceville, N.J.

Niagara Women’s Basketball Game Notes

Siena vs. Niagara - January 7, 2005

Gallagher Center

Final Score: Niagara 61, Siena 57

• Niagara started Jennifer Roueche, Toni Smalley, Cathy Rutter, Erika Harris, Michelle Manfredi. It was the Purple Eagles’ ninth different lineup of the season. A total of 12 of the 15 Purple Eagles have started this season.

• With today’s 61-57 win, the Purple Eagles snapped a nine-game losing streak and improving to 2-11 overall and 1-3 in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference.  The win also marks their second home win of the season (2-2).

• Niagara has now won four of its last five games against Siena.

• Jennifer Roueche had four blocks in the game to bring her within 18 of Niagara’s career record. Roueche has at least one block in 12 of 13 games this season and at least one in each of the last four games.

• Sophomore Cathy Rutter recorded her first three-point field goal of the season with a trey in the first half.

• With a season-high four three-point field goals, Jessi Tomasin now has at least one three-pointer in 10 out of 13 games this season and in each of the last three games. Tomasin also had a season-high 15 points.

• At halftime, freshman Erika Harris set her career high with 10 points. She finished with 16 points, a team high.

• Michelle Manfredi had a season-high six assists.