NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – Niagara kept the defending MAAC Champion Marist Red Foxes under 30 points in the first half, but a second-half surged by Marist (6-1, 1-0 MAAC) led to a 60-38 victory on Friday night at the Gallagher Center.

“It was a tale of two halves today for both teams,” head coach Kendra Faustin said. “(Marist) was aggressive on our dribble handoffs and it put us on our heels because nobody had challenged us on that this year.”

Niagara (1-6, 0-1 MAAC) forced the Red Foxes into a half court game in the first half. By controlling the tempo, the Purple Eagles knocked them out of their game plan.  With 3:56 left in the half, Jennifer McNamee (Oxford, Ohio) nailed a 3-pointer to cut the lead to one at 21-20. Marist proceeded to go on an 8-1 run to finish the half, but Niagara was very much in the game.

The Purple Eagles stifling defense held Marist under 30 percent from the field and was 1-for-10 from 3-pointers.

In the second half, the Red Foxes had a 10-point lead at 16:16 when Niagara climbed back into the game. Liz Flooks (White Plains, N.Y.) hit a 3-pointer to cap a Purple Eagle 9-2 run to be down 37-34 with 13:43 in the game.  Niagara, however, would struggle to find scoring for the rest of the game.

Marist went on a 23-3 run in the next 11:30 minutes, in which Niagara had a scoreless drought of nearly 10 minutes.

“In the first half we were really aggressive and attack their hedges,” Faustin said. “We had some good looks early in the second half, but we didn’t shoot well. Marist is known for their defense and they played really tough defense in the second half.”

Niagara did hold Marist to a season-low 29.8 field goal percentage and 16.7 3-point percentage. The Purple Eagles also kept MAAC Preseason Player of the Year Rachele Fitz to 15 points, which is under her season average 24.8. Marist’s Julianne Viani led the game with 18 points.

McNamee led the Purple and White with 12 points and has scored in double –figures in three of her last four games.

Niagara will host the Siena Saints (0-6, 0-1 MAAC) on Sunday at 2 p.m.