NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – Niagara (1-5) played a spirited game in front of 1027 screaming fans, but a second-half surge by the Binghamton Bears (3-4) propelled the visitors to a 83-65 win on Monday afternoon at the Gallagher Center.

The Purple Eagles' and the Bears' first-ever meeting was also one of two Kids’ Day hosted by the Niagara women’s basketball team. Kids’ Day is an event that gives the local community kids an opportunity to be at a live NCAA Division I women’s basketball game.

“It was great atmosphere today with the kids in attendance,” Niagara head coach Kendra Faustin said. “It is always nice to have the local community kids come out and support us, because we love to support them and show how academics and athletics work together.”

Binghamton jumped out to an 18-5 lead to start the game; the Bears made four 3-pointers during that stretch.

Niagara stormed back into the game and was loudly cheered on by the kids in attendance. The Purple Eagles went on an 18-4 run in the next six minutes to take a 23-22 lead. Ali Morris (Parkersburg, W.Va.) started the run, scoring nine of her career-high 10 points in the half.

The Bears would take a 38-31 halftime lead after guard Erica Carter drained a 3-pointer to tie her career-best 17 points. She would finish the game with a game-high 20 points.

Binghamton opened a 10-point cushion with 10:06 left in the second half and the lead quickly balloon to 17 points with a little more than six minutes remaining. Both teams continued to trade baskets and closet the Purple Eagles would get was 13 points with a minute and half left.

“I thought today we improved a lot with our defensive pressure and intensity,” Faustin said. “It was something we that we worked at practice over the weekend and I’m excited we executed well on that. We made some mistakes, like not boxing out at the end of the half, that were crucial to our downfall today. Binghamton is a good team; they are much bigger than us and are very athletic. I thought we neutralized some of their athleticism.”

Liz Flooks (White Plains, N.Y.) led the Purple Eagles with 14 points and brought down seven boards. Jennifer McNamee (Oxford, Ohio) added 13 points to go along with Flooks and Morris as Purple Eagles in double-figures.

Niagara will host defending MAAC champion, the Marist Red Foxes, on Friday, Dec. 5 at 7 pm for its first conference game of  the season.