NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – Freshman Jennifer McNamee (Oxford, Ohio) scored all 17 of her points in the second half to power the Niagara University women’s basketball team to a 76-62 non-conference win over Colgate Friday night at the Gallagher Center.

McNamee, whose mother Beth Duffy played for Niagara from 1979-82, sank three three-point field goals to go with six foul shots, as the Purple Eagles rallied from a 36-31 halftime deficit to win their season-opening contest.

Niagara was led by senior Shaunna Ambrose (McKees Rock, Pa.) with 22 points. Senior Chantelle Wilson (Burlington, Ont.) added 10 points while junior Sarah Wilson (St. Catharines, Ont.) nabbed a career-high 13 rebounds.

Niagara opened the second half with a 7-2 run to tie the score 38-38 when Ambrose completed a three-point play with 15:51 remaining. Niagara then took a 46-44 lead when Sarah Wilson sank a three-point field goal from the top of the key. The Purple Eagles never trailed afterward, eventually pushing the lead to 11, 63-52, when McNamee sank a three-pointer with 3:46 left. McNamee added another three-point field goal with 2:11 remaining and then sank four-straight foul shots as the Purple Eagles cruised to the win.

Colgate, 0-1, was led by Caitlin Gillard’s career-high totals in points (22) and rebounds (13). Gillard scored 16 of her points in the first half as the Red Raiders held a 36-31 halftime lead.

The Purple Eagles return to action 3 p.m. Sunday at Cleveland State in the Wolstein Center.