GAME 24
SCORE	Fairfield 55 – Niagara 54
RECORDS	Fairfield (7-16, 4-8 MAAC) – Niagara (11-13, 7-5 MAAC)
LOCATION	Alumni Arena

 
FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Purple Eagles fell to Fairfield, 55-54, in a one-point heartbreaker on Saturday.

Game Recap

• The first quarter was a back and forth affair between the Purple Eagles and the Stags. Emerald Ekpiteta opened scoring in the quarter before the Stags went on a 6-0 run to take a 6-2 lead over Niagara. Two more points from Ekpiteta, four points from Valentina Pepic and scores from Adila Gathers, Dagny Davidsdottir and Jai Moore left Niagara trailing by only three points, 16-13, at the end of the first quarter.
• The Purple Eagles trailed the Stags narrowly, 21-17, but a 3-pointer from Moore with a little over six minutes remaining in the second quarter put Niagara down by only one point, 21-20. Fairfield scored again, but a triple from Maggie McIntyre knotted the score, 23-23. With under three and a half minutes left in the quarter, a bucket from Moore put Niagara in the lead, 27-23 and the Purple Eagles went into halftime leading the Stags, 29-25.
• With a little over seven and a half minutes left in the third quarter, the Purple Eagles led the Stags, 37-29, but Fairfield went on an 8-0 run, tying the score, 37-37. The Stags extended their run to 11 unanswered points but a bucket from Moore brought Niagara back within one point of Fairfield, 40-39. Four more points from Moore put the Purple Eagles back in the lead, 43-42. The Stags came back to take the lead, 45-43, before Moore converted a 3-point play to once again give the Purple Eagles a one-point lead, 46-45, which remained the score at the end of the third quarter.
• Another trey from McIntyre kept the Purple Eagles in the lead by one point, 49-48. Buckets from Moore and Ekpiteta and one free throw from Davidsdottir gave Niagara some breathing room, 54-50, but the Stags made quick work of reclaiming the lead, 55-54. In the final seconds of the game, a Niagara possession didn't come to fruition and Fairfield held on to get the one-point victory, 55-54.

Inside the Numbers

• Moore led all scorers with 19 points and this is her 20^th game this season scoring in double figures.
• Ekpiteta brought down a team-high eight rebounds. She also added eight points.
• McIntyre finished with 10 points and five rebounds.
• Jordan Edwards recorded a team-high four assists and two steals.
• Gathers added six rebounds for Niagara.

Up Next

• Niagara welcomes crosstown rival Canisius to the Gallagher Center for the first installment of the Battle of the Bridge on Wednesday, Feb. 13 at 7:00 p.m.

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