NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – The Purple Eagles dropped to .500 on the season after a 51-36 loss to the Canisius Golden Griffins on Friday night in the Gallagher Center.
 
The Purple Eagles (14-14, 9-8 MAAC) got the early jump on the Griffs (11-17, 8-9 MAAC).  They held a lead throughout the first seven minutes of the game as free throws from Lauren Gatto gave the team a 13-9 lead with 12:50 left in the half.  From there the offense would go cold as the Griffs took a 27-13 lead into the break.

"I think we came out in the first half and offensively we didn't have the flow we wanted to have,' assistant coach Corinne Jones said.  "I think our defensive effort was great, especially in the second half.  We really came out and defended them and it was a grind.  We fought, we played 40 minutes, and I think we really rebounded the ball.  Our shots didn't fall but we did a great job going to the glass."
 
NU was discplined in the first half as it took only three fouls and kept Canisius from the free-throw line.  The Purple Eagles defense stayed strong throughout the game, holding Canisius’ top two scorers to a combined 10 points. 
 
A 7-0 run to start the second half got the Purple Eagles back in the game.  A layup from Gatto and five consecutive points from Meghan McGuinness brought the team within seven, 27-20.  That was as close as NU would get as the Griffs pulled away to a 51-36 victory. 
 
Gatto finished one point off of the game-high, with a team-high eight points, and led the rebounding effort with nine boards.  Sylvia Maxwell brought down eight rebounds.
 
The Purple Eagles finish the regular season on Sunday afternoon with a 2 p.m. matchup against the Manhattan Jaspers.