GAME 18
SCORE	Niagara 71 – Fairfield 68 (ot)
RECORDS	Niagara (8-10, 4-2 MAAC) – Fairfield (3-14, 0-6 MAAC)
LOCATION	Gallagher Center

 
NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – The Purple Eagles picked up an exciting 71-68 overtime win over the Fairfield Stags on Sunday, improving to 8-10 overall and 4-2 in conference play.

Game Recap

• After a back and forth game between the Purple Eagles and the Stags, the teams found themselves tied up, 63-63, after four quarters of play, sending the game into overtime. With 4.1 seconds remaining in the first overtime period, Jai Moore made a bucket and was fouled on the play, sending her to the line for one shot. Moore's free throw was good and iced the 71-68 victory for the Purple Eagles in their first overtime game of the season.
• The Stags led early in the fourth quarter but Emerald Ekpiteta converted a 3-point play to put Niagara down by only one point, 54-53. NU was still down by one, 56-55, but Moore hit a 3-pointer, putting the Purple Eagles in the lead, 58-56. With a little over one minute to play in regulation, the Purple Eagled led the Stags, 63-58, but the Stags tied it up with less than three seconds remaining in the quarter to send the game to overtime.
• The third quarter was another nail-biter between Niagara and Fairfield. A 3-pointer from Maggie McIntyre put Niagara down by just two points, 34-32, with over nine minutes to play in the quarter. The Stags maintained the lead, but a three from Kharysma Bryant as time expired kept the Purple Eagles trailing narrowly, 48-45, going into the fourth quarter.
• McIntyre sank a three early in the second quarter to put NU down by just six points, 18-12. A triple from Bryant kept the Stags' lead at six points, 23-17. Moore had four points in the last 40 seconds of the quarter, leaving Niagara trailing narrowly, 32-27, going into halftime.
• Four points from Valentina Pepic helped the Purple Eagles to a 6-5 lead over the Stags with four minutes remaining in the first quarter. Fairfield, however, began to pull away late in the quarter, going on a 7-0 run in the final minute and a half of the quarter to take a 16-9 lead over NU.

Coach's Corner

• "This win was a huge step for our team," said head coach Jada Pierce. "I'm so proud that we overcame adversity and believed in ourselves the whole time. This is a special group that has grown so much already this year. We're looking forward to our next opportunity!"

Eagle's Eye On…

• Moore led all scorers with 21 points. It is the fifth game this season in which she has scored 20 or more points.
• Ekpiteta recorded her team-best fourth double-double of the season with 11 points and a team-high 13 rebounds. She also led the Purple Eagles in steals with four, tying her career-high.
• McIntyre added 11 points for Niagara and Pepic added a career-high 10 points.
• Moore, McIntyre and Ekpiteta each had five assists, which is Ekpiteta's career-high.

Up Next

• The Purple Eagles take on the Manhattan Jaspers on Thursday, Jan. 24 at 7:00 p.m. in Riverdale, N.Y.

Stay connected with Niagara Women's Basketball on Twitter and Instagram. Follow Niagara Athletics all year long on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and purpleeagles.com.