NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – The Purple Eagles women's basketball team fell to Manhattan, 58-49, in its home finale on Sunday afternoon.

"I thought today we fought, we scrapped," said head coach Jada Pierce. "Defensively, we were pretty solid, I think, throughout the whole game. Our Achilles heel was the rebounding a little bit, giving up the weak side rebounds, but I think we tried to move our feet. I think we closed out on shooters pretty well; they're a team that usually makes some threes and we were able to get that under control, which kept us in the game."

Tiffany Corselli led Niagara in scoring with 14 points. Sam Lapszynski led in rebounding with 11 rebounds. Jamie Sherburne went 3-for-4 from the 3-point line and added 12 total points. Taylor McKay had a team-high four assists.

The Jaspers (13-13, 10-7 MAAC) got off to a quick start in the beginning of the game; at the end of the first quarter, they led Niagara (6-21, 4-14 MAAC) 15-7. The Purple Eagles responded quickly; after two Sherburne 3-pointers, they were down only six points, 20-14, a little less than halfway through the second quarter. Manhattan began to pull away, but three straight 3-point shots from Sherburne, Corselli and Emily Granruth kept Niagara in the game; they went into halftime narrowly trailing the Jaspers, 30-23.

With one and a half minutes remaining in the third quarter, the Purple Eagles came within two points of the lead, 34-32, after a lay-up from Kaylee Stroemple. A Lapszynski lay-up to close scoring in the third put Niagara down by only three points, 37-34, going into the final quarter. The Jaspers, however, edged away from the Purple Eagles in the fourth. With 42 second remaining in the game, Corselli sank a 3-point shot to put Niagara down by only five points, 51-46. Corselli shot another three to close out the quarter.

Prior to the game, seniors Sam Lapszynski and Taylor McKay were honored; both earned a start in their final game at the Gallagher Center.

The Purple Eagles take on local rival Canisius on Thursday, Feb. 25 at 5:00 p.m. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN3.

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