NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – Niagara featured three players in double-digits and a plus-16 rebounding margin, as the Purple Eagles were able to sweep the season series against the Fairfield Stags with a 66-56 win on Saturday.
 
"I thought our group did unbelievable at understanding the big picture," said head coach Kendra Faustin. "We played hard, smart and strong throughout the whole game."
 
Victoria Rampado led the way with 18 points for the Purple and White, while Meghan McGuinness scored 17 points to be in double figures for the eleventh straight game. Taylor McKay also chipped in with 12 points and three assists on the afternoon. Rampado and McKay both led Niagara grabbing six rebounds apiece in the contest. Kelly Van Leeuwen dished out a team-high six assists while only committing one turnover for NU.
 
Donisha Watson got the scoring started for NU with a layup at the 18:13 mark. The first half went back-and-forth before the Purple Eagles were able to take control and lead by as many as 13 in the first stanza. Niagara took a 33-21 lead into the break, led by Rampado and McGuinness combining for 23 points in the first half.
 
Watson again got the scoring started in the second half with a layup at 17:37 to give Niagara a 14-point lead. A Rampado jump shot at 15:38 gave the Purple Eagles their largest lead of the afternoon, going up 39-24. The Stags were able to cut the lead to as low as four points with just over ten minutes left to play in the game. However, in the span of 30 seconds, Niagara went on a quick 7-0 run which was led by back-to-back three pointers from Rampado to go back up 51-40.
 
Two off-balanced jumpers by Kaylee Stroemple as the shot clock expired were daggers as Fairfield was unable to stop Niagara's momentum. The Purple Eagles went 5-of-6 from the foul line, with McGuinness going 4-of-4, in the final minute to put the game away.
 
NU shot over 53 percent from the field, 54 percent from the 3-point line and 83 percent at the free-throw line, and had a 37-21 rebounding advantage and a 24-16 edge in points in the paint.

McGuinness, who went a perfect 3-for-3 from beyond the arc, now stands six three-pointers away from the all-time record at Niagara.

Niagara returns to the court on Thursday, February 12 as it heads to Loudonville, N.Y. to take on the Siena Saints for a 7:00 p.m. tip. The Purple Eagles fell to Siena in the meeting this season, 56-52 back on January 9 at the Gallagher Center.