NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. - The Niagara women's basketball team's bid to snap its 19-game losing streak came up short versus Rider on Friday at the Gallagher Center,79-73, in the first-ever triple-overtime game in program history.

“It was a great atmosphere,” head coach Kendra Faustin said. “I really feel terrible for our kids and our fans. We had a lot of people here supporting us and I think it made a big difference.”

In a game full of momentum swings and lead changes, it was the visitors that pulled away in the final minute of triple overtime. Niagara (1-25, 0-15) and Rider (4-22, 4-11 MAAC) exchanged leads four times in the second half to setup a tense final seconds. Rider was up 57-54 and the Purple Eagles had the ball with 4.3 seconds left when Jessica Flamm tied the game with a 3-pointer to send the game into the first overtime. 

Both teams went scoreless in the final three minutes of the first overtime period to send the game into second overtime tied at 61-61. In the second overtime period, Flamm put NU up 65-64 with 1:07 left, but Rider’s MyNeshia McKenzie made a free throw to tie the game at 65-65 with 11 seconds left. NU failed to get off a shot before time expired.

The Broncs made consecutive 3-pointers to start the third overtime period. NU cut it to 74-70 with 34 seconds left, but Rider made five straight free throws to close out the game. The Purple Eagles, who were already playing shorthanded to start the game, finished with only four eligible players due to four players fouling out and an injury.

“We finished the game with four people and we literally ran out of gas,” Faustin said. “We didn’t have enough players to put in due to fouls and (an) injury.”

Grace Cunningham was one of the players who didn’t foul out. The junior from East Aurora, N.Y. played the entire 55 minutes to set a program record. She finished with a career-high 14 points. Flamm had her first career double-double with 15 points and a career-high 13 rebounds. Liz Flooks and Chanel Johnson finished with 14 and 11 points, respectively. 

“Our kids played extremely hard (and) with high level of class battling through adversity. (Grace) was amazing; it was the best game she played. She is playing through injury, too, and is probably the most mentally toughed player I have ever coached.”

Niagara will play the Iona Gaels on Sunday at 2 p.m. in its final home game of the season.