NIAGARA UNIV, N.Y. – Victoria Rampado set career-highs with 27 points and 14 rebounds as the Purple Eagles ultimately fell to the Quinnipiac Bobcats 71-68 on Sunday afternoon in the Gallagher Center.

Rampado marked her second double-double of the season and was one of three players to score double-digit points for NU.  The Niagara Falls, Ont. native finished 12-for-18 from the field, 1-for-2 from beyond the arc and a perfect 2-for-2 from the charity stripe.

"There are certainly a lot of positives to take out of this game," head coach Kendra Faustin said.  "I thought we had some high-level defensive possessions. I would have liked for us to take care of the ball a little better because it would have been a different story walking out of here."

Freshman forward Kaylee Stroemple turned in 13 points, with a 6-for-7 effort from the field, and added five assists while Meghan McGuinness rounded out the double-digit club with 10 points.

Kelly Van Leeuwen handed out seven assists for the second consecutive game while Taylor McKay was all over the stat sheet with six points, seven rebounds, four assists and two blocks.

The Purple Eagles (7-8, 3-3 MAAC) trailed early, as Quinnipiac (14-3, 6-0) took a 10-6 lead out of the gate. However, Niagara wouldn't let QU get ahead by more than five points over the next 15 minutes as it was a back-and-forth affair with both teams trading baskets throughout the early going.  There were eight ties and twelve lead changes throughout the first half but the Bobcats eventually took the lead and went into intermission with a 37-32 advantage.

Stroemple opened scoring in the second half with a jumper but the Bobcats were able to build a 12 point lead, 52-40, in the following five minutes. After Quinnipiac was able to hold onto a 65-55 lead with just over four minutes left in the game, a 13-4 run capped by a three-pointer from Rampado brought the Purple Eagles within one (69-68) with forty three seconds on the clock.

An unfortunate foul call on the other end put Quinnipiac at the free throw line as the Bobcats were able to finish at the charity stripe to come away with a 71-68 win.

The Purple Eagles shot a season-high 58.8 percent (30-for-51) from the field while Quinnipiac finished the game shooting just 24-for-71 (33.8 percent). NU also outrebounded the Bobcats 40-32.

After this weekend, Rampado surpassed the 400-point mark for her career.  She now has 436 points through 44 career games.  

"Our front court definitely stepped up for us today," said Faustin.  "Victoria and Kaylee did a great job this afternoon and Taylor McKay also did a phenomenal job defensively."

Niagara is back on the court this Friday (Jan. 16) as the Purple Eagles visit the Rider Broncs for a 7 p.m. tip-off.