JERSEY CITY, N.J. – The Niagara women’s basketball team extended its winning streak against Saint Peter’s to three games with a 54-46 victory on Thursday night.

The Purple Eagles (7-7, 2-1 MAAC) held the lead throughout the entirety of the first half as Kayla Stroman hit the first shot of the game, a three-pointer, and they never looked back.  The biggest lead of the half was an 18-point advantage built through success from beyond the arc.  As a team Niagara hit 5-of-8 attempts (62.5 percent) and, individually, Meghan McGuinness went 3-for-4 in the half.  During the run NU also held Saint Peter’s 0-for-8 from the field.

“I thought we started well, which is something we’ve really been working on,” head coach Kendra Faustin said.  “I thought we attacked very well for the most part.  Saint Peter’s is one of the hardest places to play and our games are always like this.  It’s going to by physical, back-and-forth, and I’m really proud that we dug in and got the win.”

The Peacocks (0-14, 0-3 MAAC) were able to put a short run together down the stretch and cut the lead to 29-19 with a three-point shot at the buzzer. 

The second half was closer than the first as Niagara’s lead was kept in the single-digits for most of the half.  Each time Saint Peter’s climbed within five points the Purple Eagles hit a shot to maintain the lead.  Lauren Gatto stepped up to score 12 points in the second after putting up two in the first. 

“We really asked Lauren to pick it up on the defensive rebounding end and I thought she did a great job of that tonight,” said Faustin.  “She struggled early offensively in the first half and in the second she made big shots.  When we needed a basket, she made two big baskets down the stretch.”

With the score at 49-43 and 33 seconds remaining, the Peacocks were forced to foul.  McGuinness went to the line and hit 5-of-6 of her chances to keep Niagara in the lead as it was able to close out the 54-46 victory.

Gatto was second on the team in scoring and led in assists on the way to her second double-double of the season with 14 points and 11 rebounds.  McGuinness, a New Jersey native, led the team with 16 points.  Niagara won the bench points battle, outscoring SPU 27-2. 

“They played a lot more zone then they traditionally play and Meghan did a great job finding open spaces, being ready to catch and shoot, and I thought we did a good job of getting her the ball as well,” Faustin said.

The Purple Eagles are back on the court for a Saturday afternoon contest with the Fairfield Stags.  Tip-off at Alumni Hall is at 2 p.m.