NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – The Niagara University women’s basketball team (6-3, 0-1 MAAC) missed its first 10 field-goal attempts and never recovered as the Purple Eagles fell 77-63 to Fairfield University (4-5, 1-0 MAAC) in Friday night’s Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference game at the Gallagher Center.

While Niagara struggled, Fairfield opened the game with a 15-0 run. Niagara junior forward Sara Prybl (Mars, Pa.) broke the scoreless streak with a free throw with 14 minutes remaining in the first half. Prybl finished with a career-high 12 points in the contest. Niagara seniors Chantelle Wilson (Burlington, Ont.) and Shaunna Ambrose (McKees Rock, Pa.) and freshman Jennifer McNamee (Oxford, Ohio) each added 10 points. Junior Michelle Manfredi (Jefferson Hills, Pa.) recorded a team-high 10 rebounds and six assists.

Niagara sophomore forward Kristina Walton (Cleveland) made the Purple Eagles’ first field goal at 12:56 but the Purple Eagles trailed 19-3 at the time as six different players scored for Fairfield in the run. The Stags had a 46-20 lead at halftime.

The Purple Eagles opened the second half with a 12-3 run to come within 17, 49-32, after a steal and layup by McNamee at 15:26 to play. Niagara cut the lead to 12, 63-51, with 6:20 remaining on a Manfredi three-point field goal, but Niagara could not get closer than that.

Fairfield’s Sabra Wrice had a game-high 18 points while Baendu Lowenthal added 12 points and 11 rebounds.

Niagara returns to action Sunday when it hosts Iona Collage at 2 p.m. in the Gallagher Center.