GAME 21
SCORE	Niagara 72 – Iona 53
RECORDS	Niagara (10-11, 6-3 MAAC) – Iona (1-20, 0-9 MAAC)
LOCATION	Gallagher Center

 
NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – The Purple Eagles earned a dominant win against Iona on Saturday, 72-53, to improve to a 6-3 mark in MAAC play this season, the team's best mark through nine conference games since the 2004-05 season (7-2).

Game Recap

• Saturday afternoon's contest started as a close affair, with Iona taking a 6-0 lead after the opening four minutes of play. From there, however, Niagara was able to find its footing, going on an 11-0 run that featured four points from Jai Moore and capped off by a Kharysma Bryant layup to take an 11-6 lead with just over three minutes to play in the first quarter. Despite a 5-2 run by Iona to close out the quarter, Niagara found itself in front heading into the second quarter, 13-11.
• The Purple Eagles took control of the game in the second quarter, edging the Gaels in dominating fashion, 21-6. Up by five with just over six minutes left in the half, 22-17, Niagara closed out the quarter on a 12-0 run to earn its largest lead at the half this season, 34-17.  
• Coming out of the half, Niagara continued to showcase its dominance to the tune of 66.7% shooting in the third quarter (8-for-12), including six points from Dagny Davidsdottir. The Purple Eagles were able to force eight turnovers in the quarter, and added to their lead going into the final quarter, 52-33.
• Niagara was able to close things out strong in the fourth quarter, with eight different Purple Eagles scoring over the final 10 minutes of play. With the win, Niagara improved to 6-3 in conference play and earned a season sweep over Iona for the first time since the 2004-05 season.

Eagle's Eye On…

• Moore led the team in scoring with 20 points, the third time in her last four games she has recorded at least 20 points. She also finished with five rebounds, two assists and two steals.
• Emerald Ekpiteta grabbed a team-high eight rebounds.
• Davidsdottir and Valentina Pepic each finished with 10 points for the Purple Eagles. Pepic's mark tied her career-high in scoring, which she previously set against Fairfield on Jan. 20, while Davidsdottir went perfect from the field (5-for-5).
• Maggie McIntyre led the Purple Eagles in assists with five and co-led in steals with three while also adding seven points.
• Adila Gathers also had three steals for Niagara, tying her career-best mark.

Up Next

• The Purple Eagles will look to earn their fourth win in their last five games on Monday, Feb. 4 when they take on the Saint Peter's Peacocks at 7:00 p.m.

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