Box Score

ROCK HILL, S.C. – The Niagara women's basketball team wrapped up the Winthrop Classic with a loss to the Bradley Braves by a score of 67-43.
 
Niagara (0-4) again started out strong, jumping out to an early lead. Lauren Gatto hit five of her first six shots to score 10 of the Purple Eagles’ 12 points.  Missed shots and turnovers allowed Bradley (3-2) to build a 10-point lead , 22-12, with just over eight minutes to go in the opening half. 
 
Sparked by a three-pointer from Kayla Stroman, who would finish with five points on the afternoon, the Niagara offense came back to life and was able to start cutting into the lead, eventually cutting the deficit to six, 29-23, going into half. 

"We played our best basketball of the season in the first half," interim head coach Corinne Jones said.
 
Coming out of the break, the Purple Eagles were able to cut the lead to four points, 33-29 thanks to four of Meghan Waterman’s 10 points.  For the rest of the half, Niagara’s offense struggled while Bradley was able to build a  25-point lead, going up 59-34.
 
Late in the game Niagara was able to convert on some chances; Chanel Johnson, Gabby Baldasare, and Grace Cunningham were able to hit free throws and a number of jumpers but they would still fall short.

Niagara was again led in scoring by Gatto who recorded 16 points and seven rebounds.  Stroman led all Purple Eagles in playing time, logging 30 minutes on the court.

"Our team learned a lot about ourselves this weekend," said Jones.  "We look forward to getting after it at practice on Tuesday."

Niagara has a couple days off before it returns to action the Friday after Thanksgiving when the Purple Eagles host Bucknell at 7 pm in the Gallagher Center.