Box Score

LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – The Niagara women’s basketball team wrapped up its five-game road trip with a hard-fought loss to the Rider Broncs in a roller coaster game, 60-53, on Wednesday.
 
The ride was at full-steam in the second half as Niagara (4-10, 1-1 MAAC) came out of the break, down 25-23,and scored the first five points of the half but Rider (9-4, 1-1 MAAC) would keep it close until eventually taking a two-point lead with just over seven minutes elapsed off the clock. 
 
From the 13:53 mark to just under three minutes remaining neither team would build a lead larger than three points.  During that stretch, Kayla Stroman had seven of her 17 total points and Shy Britton added a basket and a pair of free throws to keep Niagara close.

By the three-minute mark the Purple Eagles found themselves in foul trouble as Val McQuade had fouled out and both Ali Morris and Lauren Gatto had four fouls.  Unable to play as physical as it wanted, Rider was able to pull ahead of Niagara late and win the game 60-53.
 
"We struggled with the physicality of the game," head coach Kendra Faustin said.  "It hindered us from gaining flow offensively and finishing around the rim."

The first half was a mirror image of the second.  The Broncs started the game scoring the first five points until Meghan McGuinness made a three-pointer.  Niagara went on to score 15 of the next 28 points to get within striking distance, 17-15, and ended the first half with a 6-2 run to go into halftime down a pair, 25-23.

"Kayla and Shy were great on both ends of the floor tonight," said Faustin.  "To be successful in the MAAC, especially on the road, we'll need everyone to do their job."
 
The Purple Eagles were led by Stroman’s 17 points while McQuade and Gatto tied for the team-lead in rebounds with seven boards. 
 
Niagara is back in action when it returns home to the Gallagher Center for the first time since the Dec. 10 victory over Binghamton, when it faces the Iona Gaels on Saturday for a 2 p.m. tip-off.