WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – The Purple Eagles got 13 points from Meghan McGuinness, Taylor McKay and Kaylee Stroemple in their 59-45 victory over the Monmouth Hawks on Sunday afternoon.
 
McGuinness was a threat from all over the floor for Niagara (8-9; 4-4 MAAC). The senior went 5-for-8 from the floor, 3-for-5 from beyond the arc and added six rebounds in front of a sizeable cheering section from her hometown of Lincroftt, N.J., which is just 15 minutes down the road. Monmouth (7-10; 3-5 MAAC) trailed for the majority of the game as the Purple Eagles held the Hawks to just 16-for-59 (27.1 percent) from the field.
 
McKay also contributed seven rebounds while Stroemple added five for the Purple and White. Junior center Sam Lapszynski brought down a team-high eight boards and totaled five points while Victoria Rampado put up eight points in the win. Kelly Van Leeuwen led the team with four assists and Donisha Watson tied a career-high four blocks for NU.
 
Niagara took the lead with an early three-pointer from Van Leeuwen but the Hawks would tie the contest 6-6 at the 15:56 mark. Over the next minute, both teams traded baskets and Monmouth took their final lead of the game after a three-pointer with 14:14 left to go until intermission. NU quickly responded with a jumper from Sylvia Maxwell to go up 12-11. While NU was never able to pull away in the half, it was able to keep Monmouth at bay to maintain a multiple possession lead and took a 35-28 lead into halftime.

The Purple Eagles came out of halftime to pull away with an 11-0 run which propelled them to the eventual 59-45 final. NU shot 40.4 percent (23-for-57) from the floor and 45.5 percent (5-for-11) from beyond the arc in the game.

Niagara won the battle of the boards, 46-36, for the third consecutive game and the twelfth overall this season. NU also had a 28-14 advantage in points in the paint and a 16-7 upper hand in second chance points.
 
The Purple Eagles have a quick turn-around with a mid-week matchup with Battle of the Bridge rival Canisius in the Gallagher Center at 7:00 p.m. this Wednesday.