Box Score
NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – The Niagara women's basketball team went on a 18-7 run in the second half but it wasn't enough as the Purple Eagles fell to the Dartmouth Big Green 76-70 on Sunday evening at the 'Taps' Gallagher Center. 

Sophomore forward Victoria Rampado came off the bench to lead Niagara with 17 points and a team-high five rebounds. Senior guard Meghan McGuinness also added 17 points for the Purple and White after going 6-for-12 from the field. Freshman forward Kaylee Stroemple contributed nine points and four rebounds while junior guard Taylor McKay finished with eight points for NU. Kelly Van Leeuwen had yet another team-high six assists while not making a single turnover for Niagara.

"Victoria did a great job," said head coach Kendra Faustin. "I think as a team we improved in the second half moving the basketball which limited our turnovers and increased our shooting percentage. We got better shots and that's key to our success."

Niagara (5-5) took a 8-0 lead over the first two minutes of the game after two 3-pointers from McGuinness, but the Big Green (7-5) fought back with a 10-2 run of their own to tie the contest. The Purple Eagles reclaimed the lead, 12-10, following a jumper by Rampado however Dartmouth closed the half with a 40-28 lead.

NU came out in the second half to score the first four points and although the visitors were able to respond, Niagara brought the score within single digits (46-42) after a three ball from sophomore guard Tiffany Corselli. Dartmouth would pull away once more over the next six minutes but Niagara never gave up. With less than a minute and a half to go the Big Green held on to a 72-67 lead. The Purple Eagles were forced to foul which led to two Big Green free throws but Niagara quickly responded with a 3-pointer from Sylvia Maxwell.

That was as close as the Purple Eagles would get as Dartmouth pulled away with a 76-70 win. NU outscored the Big Green 42-36 in the second half. 

Niagara shot 40.3 percent (27-for-67) from the field for the game while Dartmouth shot 52.0 percent after going 26-for-50 from the floor. The Big Green made 12 three-pointers on the game and shot 52.2 percent (12-for-23) from beyond the arc.

"I was disappointed with our defensive effort in the first half handling ball screens," said Faustin. "They shot the ball very well but I thought we did a better job in the second half defending the three point arc."

NU had 17 assists for the game while claiming a 37-30 advantage on the boards. The Purple Eagles also had a 22-18 advantage in points in the paint and 43-33 edge in points off the bench.

The Purple Eagles are back in action at the Gallagher Center on Tuesday, Dec. 30 with a matchup against Mount St. Mary's at 5 p.m.