NIAGARA UNIV, N.Y. – The Purple Eagles got contributions from up and down the lineup Friday night, but were led offensively by senior Chanel Johnson and started the final weekend of the regular season with a 68-60 win over the Rider Broncs.
 
Johnson set a new career-high with 39 minutes played and led Niagara (9-18; 8-11 MAAC) with 19 points. She also collected eight rebounds, a block, and a steal all while drawing one of the toughest defensive assignments in the conference.
 
"She was really poised tonight and did a great job making decisions coming off ball screens and distributing the ball where it needed to be," head coach Kendra Faustin said of her senior leader. "Not only did she play phenomenal on the offensive end but she had the toughest assignment, one of the best players in the league [MyNesha McKenzie], which she guarded all night. She logged a lot of minutes and she was very productive on both ends. That's a veteran player to fight through and do that."
 
Taylor McKay was a defensive force for the Purple Eagles and swung the tide back in NU's favor in the second half. Rider (13-14; 9-10 MAAC) had climbed back from a 38-25 halftime deficit and trailed by one, 42-41. McKay hit two free throws, stole the ensuing inbounds pass, and found Donisha Watson who hit an athletic layup to extend the lead to 46-41.
 
"What Taylor does doesn't show up on the stat sheet," said Faustin. "She was phenomenal. She had to guard Pellet tonight, who is very tough to keep out of the paint and she did an awesome job."
 
"Donisha was solid offensively, that was a great post move and score, but more importantly her role is on defense and she was phenomenal in the middle of that zone and cleaning up the boards tonight," Faustin continued.  
 
McKay went on to finish the game with four steals and seven total points. Watson set a new career-high with three blocks and added three rebounds and a steal.
 
Friday night was anyone's game in the early going with five lead changes and two ties in the first seven minutes of play. Niagara was able to take charge and finished the half shooting 56.0 percent (14-for-25) from the field and 55.4 percent (5-for-9) from beyond the arc. It took a 38-25 lead into halftime.
 
Niagara never gave up the lead in the second half. Each time the Broncs would close the gap and get within a possession or two, the Purple Eagles would find a way to respond and extend the lead. The last time Rider was able to get within two possessions was with five minutes remaining but Niagara pushed the lead back out to eight, 58-50, and kept its opponents at bay for the remainder of the game.

"They never took the lead in the second half, but it got very close," said Faustin. "Every time it got close we did a great job responding positively – not just weathering the storm but coming back with big plays and taking care of the ball when it mattered."

In all, three players finished with at least 10 points on the way to the 68-60 victory. Meghan McGuinness scored 13 and Kelly Van Leeuwen scored 10 to join Johnson and her 19 points. Victoria Rampado finished tied with Johnson for the team-lead in rebounds, with eight, and Van Leeuwen again took care of the basketball with five assists and two turnovers.
 
The Purple Eagles will close the book on the 2013-14 regular season on Sunday with a 2:00 p.m. matchup against the Fairfield Stags. There will be a ceremony before the game to honor the graduating senior class.