Box Score PITTSBURGH, Pa. – The Niagara women's basketball team dropped a 70-54 decision to Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) member Pittsburgh Panthers on Monday night at the Petersen Events Center.  

Pittsburgh natives Val McQuade and Gabby Baldasare had team-highs for the Purple Eagles. McQuade finished 5-for-6 (83-percent) from beyond the arc, and fell just short of a double-double with seven rebounds, to finish with 19 points. Baldasare grabbed nine rebounds for the Purple and White to lead Niagara on the boards.

Donisha Watson chipped in a career-high eight points, with a 4-for-8 effort from the field, and added six rebounds in 15 minutes of action.
 
The Purple Eagles (0-2) took an early 6-0 lead after a three-pointer by McQuade followed by a layup by Sylvia Maxwell three minutes into the game. Pitt answered with back-to-back 3-pointers to tie the game with 16:14 on the clock. From there it was a back-and-forth affair with Pitt (1-1) and NU trading baskets throughout the early going. The Panthers finished out the last two minutes of the half scoring seven unanswered points and went into the locker room with a 38-25 lead.

Niagara cut the lead to 40-30 after a long ball from Kelly Van Leeuwen with 15:08 remaining in the game. Down the stretch the Panthers took control and were able to start converting possessions.  Jamie Sherburne hit a jumper with 3:44 left to play for her first career points and finished the game with four points. While Niagara was able to convert some of its chances, Pitt was able to pull away to its eventual 70-54 win. 
 
The Purple Eagles are back on the court on Saturday, Nov. 22 when they take on Buffalo in a Big Four matchup.  Tip-off is at 2 p.m.