NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – Senior Shaunna Ambrose (McKees Rock, Pa.) and junior Michelle Manfredi (Jefferson Hills, Pa.) combined for 47 points as the Niagara University women’s basketball team (3-0) defeated St. Bonaventure (1-1), 71-64, in non-conference action Tuesday night at the Gallagher Center.

The Purple Eagles’ 3-0 start is its best start since the 1994-95 season when it also won the season’s first three games.

Ambrose finished with a game-high 28 points while Manfredi tied her career high with 19 points. Manfredi also snared a team-high nine rebounds and led Niagara with three assists.

Ambrose, who scored 18 of her points in the second half, allowed Niagara to take a double-digit lead in the first half when she sank a three-point field goal with 2:27 to play to give the Purple Eagles a 30-19 lead. Niagara had a 37-23 lead at halftime.

St. Bonaventure opened the second half with a 9-4 run to pull within seven, 41-34, when Priscilla Edwards sank a three-pointer with 16:39 remaining. Both teams traded points until the game’s final 44 seconds when the Bonnies’ Katelyn Murray sank a three-pointer to make it 65-62. Manfredi and Ambrose then sank four-straight free throws to give Niagara a 69-62 lead. Ambrose added two more foul shots before Edwards rounded out the scoring.

St. Bonaventure’s Audrey Latendresse scored 16 points while Priscilla Edwards added 14 points. Ashley Edwards also scored 14 points and recorded a game-high 11 rebounds.

Niagara returns to action Sunday at 2 p.m. when it hosts Maryland-Eastern Shore in the Gallagher Center.