Box Score YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio –The Niagara Purple Eagles dropped their season opener against the Youngstown State Penguins 83-61 on Saturday morning. 

Junior guard Sylvia Maxwell totaled 16 points, three rebounds and two assists to lead Niagara. Kelly Van Leeuwen went 2-for-2 from three-point range and finished with eight points and a team-high four assists. Victoria Rampado added eight points as well going 4-for-6 from the field.

Niagara (0-1) took an early 3-0 lead following a three pointer by Van Leeuwen one minute into the game, but a three-pointer by the Penguins (1-0) sparked the host's 21-7 run over the next five minutes.

The Penguins held onto a 31-14 lead midway through the first half after a layup that gave YSU its largest lead thus far. Niagara chipped away at the YSU lead (37-25) after a layup by Maxwell and a jumper from Kelyn Freedman with 4:40 remaining in the first half. NU closed the half with six unanswered points and Youngstown took a 45-27 lead into the break.

The Purple Eagles shot 44.1 percent (15-for-34) from the floor in the second half, but the Penguins were able to answer back and maintain their lead on the way to an 83-61 win. YSU's win marked its first victory over Niagara since 1991 and snapped a four-game losing streak to the Purple Eagles.  

NU held a 29-8 advantage in points off the bench while YSU out-rebounded the Purples Eagles 38-31.

Niagara travels to Atlantic Coast Conference member Pitt for a 7 p.m. game on Monday. It will mark the 4th all-time meeting between the two teams.