NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – Senior guard Shaunna Ambrose (McKees Rock, Pa.) recorded her fourth 20-plus point game of the season with a game-high 24 points but it was not enough as Niagara University (6-4, 0-2 MAAC) fell 65-55 to Iona College (5-5, 2-0 MAAC) Sunday afternoon in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference action at the Gallagher Center.

Iona used runs of 13-0 and 13-1 to close the first half and take a 40-25 lead into halftime. The Gaels were led by Martina Weber’s 15 points while Lauren DeFalco added 12 points and three steals. Iona’s Jessica Anger and Anna McLean each added 10 points off of the bench.

Niagara used a 6-0 run to break out to a 16-10 lead when sophomore Erika Harris (Gahanna, Ohio) sank a short jump shot with 13:31 left in the half. Iona responded with a 13-0 run for a 23-16 lead on a DeFalco three-point field goal with 10:07 remaining. The Purple Eagles got within three, 27-24, on a three-pointer by freshman Jennifer McNamee (Oxford, Ohio) at 5:44. Weber scored four points and DeFalco added three more as Iona closed the half with a 13-1 run for the 40-25 halftime lead.

The Purple Eagles opened the second half with a 12-3 run to make it 43-37 at 15:18 as Ambrose scored seven of her points to bring Niagara back. Iona responded with an 8-0 run as Anger and McLean each scored four points for a 51-37 lead with 11:33 left.

Niagara would cut the lead to seven, 60-53, with 5:24 remaining on an Ambrose free throw but could not make the deficit any closer.

Junior guard Michelle Manfredi (Jefferson Hills, Pa.) had a game-high 10 rebounds.

Niagara returns to action Dec. 18 when it travels to Florida to take on Jacksonville at 7 p.m.