NIAGARA UNIV, N.Y. - Propelled by a 21-2 second half run, the Purple Eagles defeated the Fairfield Stags 50-39 Friday night in the Gallagher Center.
 
“I’m really, really proud of our defensive effort tonight,” head coach Kendra Faustin said.  “Our players, knowing personnel, did a great job knowing who shooters were, I don’t think we gave up any easy three’s.  We did a great job of help-side in the post, not allowing their post to get catches low. Overall, we asked our players to really dig with a physical, mental, emotional effort, and I felt like we did that tonight.”
 
Niagara (13-13, 8-7 MAAC) faced a 32-27 deficit with six minutes elapsed in the second, but stormed back thanks to a defensive effort that saw it hold Fairfield (16-10, 10-5 MAAC) without a field goal for the next 13 minutes, forcing the Stags to go 0-10 from the floor.  Kelly Van Leeuwen got things started on offense with a three-pointer for three of her nine points on the night.  Lauren Gatto, Kayla Stroman, Shy Britton, Val McQuade, and Meghan McGuinness all added points to the run that put the Purple Eagles up 46-33 by the time it was over.
 
“We had three people that scored in the first half and we needed some more scoring, and Kelly did that in the second half, Shy did that in the second half, and Kayla," Faustin said.  "I think that was the difference offensively and we continued to buckle down defensively.”

Fairfield was able to hit a couple of shots in the final minute but also sent Van Leeuwen to the line twice, and she didn't miss, as the Purple Eagles pulled away with a50-39 victory.
 
Gatto finished with a game-high 14 points after a 7-for-12 effort from the floor.  McGuinness also finished in double digits with 12 points.  Stroman set a career-high with a game-high 10 rebounds and added four assists and three steals.  Britton was strong on defense with three steals of her own and a pair of blocks.  Van Leeuwen went 6-for-6 from the charity stripe on her way to nine points. 
 
Friday’s win snapped a six-game losing skid to the Stags and was the Purple Eagle’s first home win in the series since Jan. 22, 2006.  It also moves Niagara to 6-0 in games played on Feb. 22 since the 2000-01 season. 
 
The Purple Eagles are back on the court this Sunday when they face the Manhattan Jaspers for a Senior Day showdown.  Tickets are still available and more information can be found by clicking here.