NIAGARA UNIV, N.Y. –  In the first Battle of the Bridge meeting between the teams this season, the Niagara women’s basketball team could not sustain a second half rally in a 56-49 defeat to the Canisius Golden Griffins in the annual WBCA Pink Zone game on Saturday at the Gallagher Center.

“It is a rivalry game so it will always be a tough loss,” head coach Kendra Faustin said.  “I thought we played hard and intense. We haven’t been in a lot of position with our young players where we had an opportunity to pull out a win. We needed some people to step up; Liz (Flooks) did that, but we needed one more person.” 

After scoring only two points through the opening nine minutes, Niagara (1-23, 0-13 MAAC) went on a 12-4 run to cut Canisius’ (8-16, 4-9 MAAC) lead to 22-16 with 3:48 in the half. Liz Flooks drained a pair of 3-pointers to move into sole possession of fifth place all-time in 3-pointers in program history. Flooks connected on her third 3-pointer of the half with 40 seconds remaining to bring NU within five at halftime.

The Purple Eagles started the second half on an 8-2 run on back-to-back three-point plays by Flooks and Chanel Johnson and a layup by Shy Britton for their first lead at 27-26. Canisius would answer with a 12-2 run to regain the lead it would not relinquish.

Niagara, though, wouldn’t go away easily. Flooks hit a 3-pointer with 3 minutes remaining to bring the Purple Eagles to 48-44. The difference in the game and in the final minutes was free throws. The Golden Griffins were 17-for-20 (85.0 percent) at the line and 7-for-9 in the final two minutes which helped seal the game.

Flooks led the game with 24 points and 10 rebounds for her second career double-double and tied a career-best with five 3-pointers.

“It was probably her second best game of the season,” Faustin said. “She shot the ball well, she was aggressive and really battled.”

Niagara is back on the road for a Monday evening matchup with the Loyola Greyhounds at 7 p.m.