Game 10
SCORE	Rider 79 – Niagara 75
RECORDS	Rider (8-2, 1-0 MAAC) – Niagara (2-8, 0-1 MAAC)
LOCATION	Alumni Gymnasium

 
LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. - After leading for almost the entire game, the Purple Eagles fell to Rider, 79-75, in the final seconds of Thursday night's game to open conference play.

Game Recap
First Quarter

• The Broncs led the Purple Eagles by two points, 6-4, but a triple from Morgan Baughman with a little over four minutes to go in the quarter put Niagara on top, 7-6.
• A bucket from Angel Parker and a trey from Maggie McIntyre gave Niagara a 12-8 lead over Rider at the end of the first quarter.

Second Quarter

• Jai Moore began to heat up in the second quarter, scoring seven straight points for the Purple Eagles to give them a 19-14 lead over Rider with a little under nine minutes to go in the half.
• Ally Haar sank a three with over five and a half minutes to go to keep Niagara in the lead, 26-18.
• With a little under four minutes left in the quarter, Moore converted a 3-point play to give Niagara a nine-point lead, 33-24.
• The Purple Eagles remained ahead by nine, 39-30, going into halftime. Moore scored 14 total points in the second quarter.

Third Quarter

• Rider went on a 7-0 run early in the third quarter to cut Niagara's lead to two points, 41-39, but another three from McIntyre gave the Purple Eagles some breathing room.
• With a little under five minutes to go in the quarter, the Purple Eagles and the Broncs were tied, 45-45, and Rider soon took the lead, 47-45.
• Back-to-back triples from McIntyre, however, put the Purple Eagles back on top, 51-47.
• Moore scored two more points and Emerald Ekpiteta had one free throw to cap a 9-0 run for Niagara.
• The Purple Eagles led the Broncs, 56-53, at the end of the third quarter.

Fourth Quarter

• Two points from Valentina Pepic and Adia Brisker and another trey from McIntyre put Niagara up by eight, 63-55, with a little over seven and a half minutes left to play.
• Niagara led, 65-62, but the Broncs sank a three to take the lead, 66-65.
• The Purple Eagles got back on top, 67-66, after a bucket from Moore, but the Broncs scored again to tilt the scales in their favor, 68-67.
• Niagara and Rider were tied, 70-70, with under a minute and a half to go, but the Broncs scored four straight points to take a 74-70 lead over NU.
• Another bucket from Moore and a sixth 3-pointer from McIntyre left Niagara down by just one point, 76-75, but the Broncs held on to win the game, 79-75.

Eagle's Eye On…

• Moore led the Purple Eagles in scoring with a season-high 27 points. She also had a team-high three assists.
• McIntyre added 18 points and made six 3-pointers, tying her career-high for threes in a single game.
• Ekpiteta led the team in rebounding with eight rebounds. Davidsdottir had seven boards.
• Ekpiteta also led the Purple Eagles in steals with four.

 
Up Next

• The Purple Eagles take on the Manhattan Jaspers on Saturday, Jan. 4 at 2:00 p.m. The game will be broadcasted on ESPN+.

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