NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – The Niagara Purple Eagles were defeated by the Iona Gaels, 73-52, on Friday afternoon at the Gallagher Center.  Niagara displayed a strong first half with tough defense and hot shooting, but went ice cold from the field in the second half.

Today’s game was a WBCA Pink Zone event game. The WBCA Pink Zone initiative is a global, unified effort for the Women's Basketball Coaches Association's (WBCA) nation of coaches to assist in raising breast cancer awareness on the court, across campuses, in communities and beyond.

Niagara (1-26, 0-16 MAAC) began a 13-0 run with six minutes remaining in the first half to take a 33-25 lead. Liz Flooks (White Plains, N.Y.) scored six-straight points in the run. The Purple Eagles defense forced 11 Iona turnovers and their 2-3 zone neutralized the Gaels inside game. NU shot 44.4 percent from the field on its way to a 33-30 halftime lead.

The second half proved to be a different story.

Iona (16-11, 9-7 MAAC) outscored Niagara 25-7 in the first 10 minutes of the half, in which the Purple Eagles only made one field goal (1-for-9) during that span.

Senior Erika Harris (Gahanna, Ohio) led the Purple and White with 16 points. Flooks and Rachele Folino (Novi, Mich.) scored 11 and 10 points, respectively, to join Harris in double figures.

Niagara will have its final home game and senior day against the Loyola Greyhounds on Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m.