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Erika Harris
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NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – In a tightly contested game between long time foes, the Niagara Purple Eagles were narrowly defeated by the Saint Peter’s Peahens, 66-58, on Sunday afternoon at the Gallagher Center. Senior guard Erika Harris (Gahanna, Ohio) led the Purple and White with 15 points.
“We did not make free throws down the stretch,” head coach Kendra Faustin said. “We talked a lot about handling adversity and tonight (SPC making free throws) was that. We needed a big shot (late) and we didn’t get one. We didn’t execute on offense and did not take care of the ball.”
The game was tied seven times and saw six lead changes.
Niagara (1-21, 0-11 MAAC) was up 14-11 midway through the first half when Saint Peter’s (7-13, 4-7 MAAC) went on a 14-0 run. The Purple Eagles stopped the run with a Liz Flooks (White Plains, N.Y.) layup at 5:35 and it ignited a 10-0 run by the home team.
Overall, NU ended the half on a 15-4 run to cut the SPC’s lead to 29-26. Niagara carried the momentum from the first half into the second half. The Purple Eagles started the half 4-for-4, including an Ali Morris’ (Parkersburg, W.Va.) 3-pointer, to take a 37-33 lead.
Down 54-49 with 6:32 left in the second half, Niagara began to struggle at the free throw line in a critical point in the game. The Purple Eagles were 4-for-9 from the line and 12-for-22 in the second half, which proved detriment to their comeback bid.
The Peahens, who ranks last in the MAAC (61.3 percent) in free throw percentage, were 20-for-21 at one point in the game and finished 21-for-26 (80.8 percent) in the game.
Niagara will travel to New York City to face the Manhattan Jaspers on Friday, February 6.
