NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. – Niagara post players combined for 46 points on the night but it wasn’t enough as Niagara women’s basketball lost a close game 60-58 to the Iona Gaels on a last-second shot on Thursday night.
 
While the Gaels (10-8, 5-2 MAAC) were able to take an early lead, the first half  belonged to the Purple Eagles (8-10, 3-4 MAAC) who stayed in control with Lauren Gatto’s 18 first half points.  The Mayfield, Ohio native hit 8-of-14 shots as NU went on a pair runs in the opening half.  The first came halfway through the period as an 8-0 run put it ahead 14-8 halfway through the period before a 12-3 run sent it into the half with a 31-27 lead.
 
"Our posts were fantastic tonight on both ends of the floor," head coach Kendra Faustin said.  "This was a hard fought MAAC game that finished in dramatic fashion."

The second half was a back-and-forth affair as the lead was traded three times and a pair of ties.  With four minutes left the Purple Eagles found themselves down 55-48 but stormed back to tie the game with 1:10 left after Val McQuade hit for seven of her 16 total points and Kelly Van Leeuwen added a three-pointer of her own. 
 
Both team missed shots in the final seconds but Iona would connect on a layup with 2.6 seconds left to come away with the 60-58 win.
 
Gatto’s game-high 20 points were two shy of her career high of 22 (a mark she set against Iona earlier this month).  McQuade missed a double-double by a single rebound, bringing in nine, but her 16 points are a new career-high. 
 
The Purple Eagles continue their road trip back in Western New York as they take on the Canisius Golden Griffins in a Battle of the Bridge matchup on Sunday at 1 p.m.  The game will be shown as part of a double header on ESPN 3.