NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – Behind a career-high 21 points from Liz Flooks (White Plains, N.Y.) and double-digit scoring by Sarah Wilson (Saint Catherines, Ont.) and Erika Harris (Gahanna, Ohio), the Niagara University women’s basketball team defeated Manhattan 69-62 in front of 380 fans at the Gallagher Center. With the win, the Purple Eagles improve to 5-15 (3-6 MAAC) after winning their last two.

Niagara head coach Kendra Faustin is proud of her team that was able to sweep the second and third place teams in the MAAC.

“We took a big step up today,” stated Faustin. “We were concerned with getting rebounds by moving our feet, and we were able to do just that.”

The first half started out slow for the Purple Eagles, as Manhattan jumped out to a 10-2 lead. Niagara stormed back on a 7-0 run, capped by a jumper by Jaclyn Konieczka (Parma, Ohio) to bring the Purple Eagles within one. Both teams started to trade baskets as the score was tied with 6:16 left. A Rachele Folino (Novi, Mich.) layup put Niagara in the lead 19-17; a lead which they would not give up. The Purple Eagles went into the half with a 26-20 lead. Niagara dominated Manhattan in the paint, outscoring them 16-0 in the first half. Wilson and Harris led the Purple Eagles with six points, while Flooks had five.

The Jaspers made things interesting in the second half, as Gabrielle Cottrell made a three-pointer only nine seconds in, to cut the Niagara lead to 26-23. The game would go back and forth, where the Purple Eagle lead was dwindled down to one on several occasions. A Kristina Walton (Cleveland, Ohio) layup, coupled with a Flooks trey not only put Niagara up 45-38, but gave the Purple Eagles much needed momentum. Niagara would go on a tear, as another Walton layup would put Niagara up 53-38 with 8:49 remaining. The Purple Eagles would sustain a double-digit lead until an 8-0 Jasper run cut the  Niagara lead to 59-54.

Critical baskets by Flooks and Walton were made late in the game to force Manhattan into fouling. Michelle Manfredi (Jefferson Hills, Pa.) made six consecutive free throws under two minutes remaining to seal the victory for the Purple Eagles. Flooks scored 16 of her career-high 21 points in the second half, as three-time MAAC Player of the Week Caitlin Flood led the Jaspers with 17 points, all of which came in the second half. Wilson finished with 14 and Harris added 10 for the Purple Eagles.          .

Niagara takes to the road next weekend, as they take on Fairfield on Friday at 7 p.m. and Iona at 2 p.m on Sunday.