LAWRENCEVILLE, N.Y. – Three Purple Eagles were in double-figures as Niagara fell to the Rider Broncs in a 61-56 setback on Friday night.

Senior Meghan McGuinness went 5-for-9 from three-point land and totaled 18 points, six rebounds, two assists and two steals for Niagara. Junior guard Taylor McKay added 12 points and six rebounds while Victoria Rampado contributed 11 points and five rebounds. Freshman forward Kaylee Stroemple had a team-high eight rebounds while Kelly Van Leeuwen had a season-high eight assists.

Niagara (7-9; 3-4 MAAC) held an 9-4 lead five minutes into the game, before the host Rider (4-13; 1-6 MAAC) got back into the game with a 19-14 run. Niagara, which defeated Rider once last season, found itself trailing 29-24 with 4:26 left to play in the first half. In a little over a minute, a jumper by Sylvia Maxwell and a three-pointer by McGuinness tied the score 29-29. Two free throws put Rider back on top but Rampado would score a bucket right before halftime to go into intermission tied with the Broncs 31-31.

The teams traded baskets for the first six minutes of the second half but Rider took a 43-47 with 12:41 remaining in the game. The Broncs had a 10-point advantage with just under a minute and a half remaining, but Niagara cut the lead to 56-53 after a layup by Simone Hobdy with 37.1 seconds left.

The Purple Eagles were forced to foul late and Rider was able to take advantage as time expired to come away with the 61-56 victory.

Niagara was called for 24 fouls in the game which resulted in 28 free throw shots for the Broncs compared to a total of eight for the Purple Eagles.

Both teams struggled to shoot as the Purple Eagles shot just 31.5 percent (23-for-73) from the field while the Broncs went 20-for-59 (33.9 percent) from the floor.

Turnovers also hurt Niagara, as the Purple Eagles turned the ball over 16 times compared to just nine for the Broncs. However, Niagara again won the rebounding battle, 55-42, and posted a 10-7 advantage in fast break points.
 
NU is back in action with a chance to get to .500 in MAAC play on Sunday night when it takes on the Monmouth Hawks at 2:00 p.m.