NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. - The Niagara women's basketball team defeated defending six-time regular season MAAC champion Marist, 69-59, to snap the nation's third longest win streak on Sunday afternoon from the Gallagher Center. Niagara was powered by senior Jaclyn Konieczka, who scored a career and game-high 21 points.

“We have been working so hard for the past three seasons to take steps forward and I think we did that this weekend,” head coach Kendra Faustin said.  “It is credit to the players and the staff; I’m so proud of them.”

Niagara (7-13, 4-5 MAAC) shot 47.9 (23-for-48) percent from the field, including shooting 52.4 percent in the second half, for its second best shooting performance of the season. The Purple Eagles also shot a season-best 57.1 percent (8-for-14) from behind the arc.

Marist (17-5, 9-1 MAAC) came into the game with the nation's third longest win streak at 13 games. The Purple Eagles picked up their first win over the Red Foxes since Feb. 6, 2004 and handed Marist its first loss against a MAAC opponent since Feb. 6, 2009 and only its sixth loss in conference since the 2004-05 season.

The Purple Eagles and the Red Foxes traded baskets early in the game and Niagara was paced by an unusual suspect. Konieczka, who averaged 3.8 ppg on the season, connected on her first five shots, including draining her first-ever 3-pointer, to give NU a 14-11 lead. She finished the half with 15 points, one point shy of her career-high.

“She (Konieczka) did a great job making herself available and ready to shoot,” Faustin said. “In the second half, she did great job passing out of double teams and not turning over the ball.”

Marist took a 22-17 lead with 7:22 remaining in the first half for its largest lead of the game and scored the last four points in the half to take a 31-28 halftime lead.

Junior forward Liz Flooks scored the second half's first points on back-to-back 3-pointers to give NU a lead it would not relinquish. 3-pointers from senior Jennifer McNamee and sophomore Ali Morris gave the Purple Eagles a nine-point lead midway through the half.

Marist closed the gap to 53-51 with 4:08 remaining, but Flooks and Rachele Folino hit jumpers to extend NU's lead to six points. The Red Foxes cut the lead to five with under a minute left, but free throws by Konieczka, Meghan Waterman and Kayla Stroman help sealed the game.

Konieckza finished with a career-high 21 points, while Stroman and Flooks added 15 and 12 points, respectively.

Niagara continues its homestand with an 11 a.m. showdown with archrival Canisius on Wednesday, Feb. 3.