NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – The Niagara women's basketball team was defeated by Iona, 73-52, on Saturday afternoon.

"Overall, I don't think we played our best basketball today," said Purple Eagles head coach Jada Pierce. "This was not our best game, this was not our best effort and we've got next weekend to get this straight."

Kaylee Stroemple led the Purple Eagles in scoring with 15 points. Sam Lapszynski led the team in rebounding with 10 rebounds. Jamie Sherburne had a team-high six assists and also added 10 points for the Purple Eagles. Taylor McKay contributed 11 points and Lapszynski had eight points, narrowly missing a double-double.

Niagara got off to a quick lead in the first quarter after a Sherburne 3-pointer less than two minutes into the game. Iona (13-9, 9-2 MAAC) answered quickly however and a little more than halfway through the quarter, the Gaels were up 11-6. Stroemple cut the Gaels' lead to two points, sinking a 3-point shot to bring the score to 11-9. The Gaels were once again quick to respond and were in the lead 18-11 at the end of the first quarter.

In the second quarter, the Purple Eagles (6-15, 4-8 MAAC) played tough and with 1:05 remaining in the first half of the game, the Gaels' lead was cut to three points, 29-26, after a basket from Stroemple. But Iona once again pulled away and going into halftime the Purple Eagles trailed narrowly, 33-28.

The Gaels extended their lead in the third quarter. Despite baskets from Stroemple, Lapszynski and McKay, Iona led Niagara 56-38 going into the fourth quarter. The Purple Eagles were persistent throughout the game's final quarter, taking advantage of every opportunity they could to try to take the lead from Iona. Sherburne sank her second 3-pointer of the game, putting Niagara down by 20 points, 61-41, with over eight minutes to play. Stroemple scored the final points for Niagara with just over a minute to play.

Niagara plays next on Friday, Feb. 5 at Fairfield.

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