Box Score BUFFALO, N.Y. – Senior
Meghan McGuinness led the Niagara women's basketball team with 22 points and six rebounds in Saturday afternoon's 73-64 loss to the Buffalo Bulls at the Alumni Arena.
McGuinness finished the afternoon shooting 6-for-13 from the floor, 4-for-7 from beyond the arc and a perfect 6-for-6 from the free throw line.
"We got tired and the biggest thing we struggled with was the momentum of giving up some boards," head coach
Kendra Faustin said. "I loved the spirit that we played with and I thought we played hard but I would like to see our players off the bench match that intensity."
Niagara (0-3) was able to build an early 11-7 lead after a three-pointer from senior guard
Kelly Van Leeuwen following a breakaway layup by junior
Sylvia Maxwell with 11:30 left in the first half. The Purple Eagles took their largest lead of the game after going on a 25-10 run which was capped by a layup from sophomore
Victoria Rampado with 4:01 remaining in the first half. NU took a 36-27 lead into the break.
Through the opening half the Bulls (2-1) were able to put together a run fueled by free throws and three pointers to cut into the deficit 38-36 with 16:53 left on the clock. UB took a short lead before Niagara tied the score 46-46. NU went on to reclaim a 57-52 lead after a jumper from
Val McQuade.
With five minutes left in the game the Bulls outscored the Purple Eagles 18-7 and UB kept its lead to walk away with a 73-64 victory.
Donisha Watson tied her career-high eight points and also grabbed a career-high 12 rebounds in the Niagara effort. Also tying her career-high, Maxwell contributed 16 points along with six assists while McQuade added 11 points for NU.
Niagara heads back out on the road for their next contest; it heads to Binghamton to take on the Bearcats for a pre-Thanksgiving matchup on Wednesday at 2:00 p.m.