Box Score

FAIRFIELD, Conn – The Niagara women’s basketball team was able to control play for parts of the game against the Fairfield Stags but came up short on Sunday afternoon, dropping the game 57-46.
 
With five minutes gone in the first half and Fairfield (14-5, 7-1 MAAC) in the lead 13-10, Lauren Gatto drove to the basket for a layup to bring Niagara (6-14, 3-5 MAAC) within one and, six minutes later, Meghan McGuinness hit a jumper to complete a 10-2 run and put the Purple Eagles in front 20-15.

"We played a great first half and went through a big scoring drought in the second," said head coach Kendra Faustin.  "I was very happy with Gatto's play tonight on both ends of the floor."
 
The Stags came back to take a late 23-22 lead but a Jazmyne Frost free-throw tied the game and a jumper by Gatto put Niagara in the lead 25-23 with less than a minute left.  Fairfield’s Alexys Vazquez hit a three-pointer with less than 30 seconds on the clock to give the Stags their one-point halftime lead, 26-25. 
 
The Purple Eagles came out flying to begin the second half as Shy Britton, Gatto, and a three-pointer by McGuinness put Niagara back on top 34-30 with 15 minutes left.  The lead would be short-lived as Fairfield was able to put together a 19-2 run down the stretch.  While Niagara continued to battle, the deficit was too large and the Stags took away a 57-46 win
 
Gatto led the Purple Eagles with 20 points and seven rebounds.  Val McQuade’s jumper in the first half made her the first of Niagara’s freshmen to score her 100^th career point.
 
Women’s basketball is back in action on Friday for its annual Kids Day game.  Tipoff will be at 11 am against the Rider Broncs.