NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – Despite an early lead, the Niagara women's basketball team dropped a hard-fought game to Marist, 84-78, on Friday.

Game Summary
Final Score: Marist 84, Niagara 78
Leading Scorers: Victoria Rampado (24 points), Jai Moore (16 points), Kaylee Stroemple (16 points)
Records: Marist (11-10, 7-2 MAAC), Niagara (8-12, 5-4 MAAC)
Location: Gallagher Center – Niagara University, N.Y.

Game Recap

• The Purple Eagles came out hot on offense in the first quarter. With a little under seven minutes left, Rampado hit a three to give Niagara a 9-4 lead over the Red Foxes. Jamie Sherburne scored seven straight points to extend NU's lead, 20-7, with four minutes remaining in the first quarter. Another 3-pointer from Rampado put NU up, 23-10, with 3:18 left. A layup from Stroemple gave the Purple Eagles a 17-point lead, 29-12, which was their largest lead of the game, with 1:20 remaining in the quarter. Niagara led the Red foxes, 29-18, going into the second quarter.
• The Red Foxes quickly cut NU's lead in the second quarter, going on a 12-2 run in the first four and a half minutes. Marist took its first lead of the game, 40-38, with a little under two minutes to go. The Red Foxes outscored the Purple Eagles 27-11 in the second quarter and led 45-40 going into halftime.
• Stroemple sank a 3-pointer to open scoring for NU in the third quarter and cut Marist's lead to four points, 47-43. Rampado and Moore each added six points leaving the Purple Eagles trailing by only one point, 58-57, at the end of the third quarter.
• Stroemple scored four straight points to put Niagara down by only one point, 66-65, with a little under six and a half minutes to go. A huge bucket from Emerald Ekpiteta put the Purple Eagles back in the lead, 67-66, with six minutes remaining. Marist came back to take a 68-67 lead, but another three from Stroemple put Niagara back on top, 70-68. The score would be tied three times in the remainder of the fourth quarter, but Marist had the edge, coming away with the 84-78 victory.

Coach's Corner

• "We did really well with our pressure defense," said head coach Jada Pierce. "I thought we did a really good job of getting back into it in the third quarter after relinquishing the lead in the second quarter but I think down the stretch, we needed to execute a little bit better."

Inside the Numbers

• Rampado led the Purple Eagles with 24 points and 10 rebounds, recording her ninth double-double of the season. It was Rampado's ninth 20-plus-point performance of the season.
• Stroemple and Moore each added 16 points for the Purple Eagles and Stroemple also brought down nine rebounds.
• Sherburne had 14 points and led Niagara in assists with seven and in steals with three.

Up Next

• The Purple Eagles host Quinnipiac for their pancreatic cancer awareness game on Sunday, Jan. 28 at 2:00 p.m.

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