LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. – The Purple Eagles' women's basketball team extended its win streak to three games with a 67-57 victory over Rider on Sunday afternoon.

Sam Lapszynski led Niagara in both scoring and rebounding; she had 24 points and a career-high 14 rebounds, recording her fifth double-double of the season. Lapszynski also led the team in blocks with four. Kaylee Stroemple added 18 points, eight rebounds and three steals for the Purple Eagles. Taylor McKay led the team in assists with six; she also had 11 points and seven rebounds.

"This was another great effort by the team playing in a very tough place at Rider," said Niagara head coach Jada Pierce. "We got off to a really good start which I think helped us set the tone for the rest of the game. I'm really happy to see that we were able to out rebound Rider today because we knew coming in that they crashed the boards really hard."

Lapszynski opened scoring in the first quarter, scoring two after blocking a Broncs shot on the previous play. Tiffany Corselli sank a 3-pointer with 5:36 left in the quarter to give Niagara a 7-6 lead over Rider. To close out the first quarter, Lapszynski scored once again to put the Purple Eagles in the lead, 18-15, at the end of the first. Lapszynski had nine of the Purple Eagles' 18 points in the first quarter.

Less than two minutes into the second quarter, the score stood tied at 19-19. Two baskets from Stroemple, however, propelled the Purple Eagles (5-10, 3-3 MAAC) back into the lead and with a little over seven minutes remaining to play in the first half Niagara led, 23-19. Corselli hit another 3-point shot with 2:48 remaining in the second quarter to extend Niagara's lead, 31-25. Going into halftime, the Purple Eagles led the Broncs (3-12, 0-6 MAAC), 35-28.

Stroemple opened the third quarter with a 3-point shot to put the Purple Eagles up 38-30. With less than two minutes to go in the quarter, Corselli hit her third 3-pointer of the game to give Niagara a 10 point lead, 49-39. The Purple Eagles closed out the third in the lead, 51-39.

With their tough defense and energetic offense, the Purple Eagles were able to maintain their lead for the entirety of the fourth quarter and took home their fifth win of the season.

The Purple Eagles host Quinnipiac on Friday, Jan. 15 at 11 a.m. for their annual kids' day game.

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