FAIRFIELD, CONN. – The Purple Eagles' women's basketball team was defeated by Fairfield, 61-43, on Friday night.

"Tonight was tough," said head coach Jada Pierce. "We got off to a really slow start offensively which I think translated for us, unfortunately, on the defensive end. We were playing catch-up the whole night, which isn't a good thing for us."

Freshman Jayla Nichols led the Purple Eagles in scoring with a career-high 12 points. Sam Lapszynski led the team in rebounding with 12 rebounds. She also added eight points. Jamie Sherburne had a team-high four assists.

The first half of the game started out slow for the Purple Eagles. Despite baskets from Taylor McKay, Tiffany Corselli, Kharysma Bryant and Lapszynski, the Stags led the Purple Eagles 29-14 going into halftime.

Niagara came out of halftime looking sharp. Lapszynski opened the quarter with a basket to cut Fairfield's lead to 13 points, 29-16. With about six and a half minutes left in the third quarter, Corselli hit a 3-pointer to put the score at 33-19. Fairfield, however, pulled away from the Purple Eagles and, after a Sherburne 3-pointer, the Stags still maintained their lead, 40-24. At the end of the third quarter, the Stags were ahead of Niagara 46-29.

Sherburne sank another 3-point shot to open scoring for the Purple Eagles in the fourth quarter. Nichols converted a three point play with a little less than six minutes remaining to play, leaving Niagara trailing by only 18 points, 55-37. Corselli, Nichols and Bryant all added two more points for the Purple Eagles in the fourth.

The Purple Eagles play next on Sunday, Feb. 7 at Quinnipiac.

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