Niagara University Athletics

Game 12
SCORE	Niagara 68 – Siena 61 (ot)
RECORDS	Niagara (3-9, 1-2 MAAC) – Siena (2-11, 0-4 MAAC)
LOCATION	Gallagher Center

 
NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – The Purple Eagles won a 68-61 overtime thriller with the Siena Saints on Thursday to pick up their first conference win of the season.

Game Recap
First Quarter

• The first quarter was a low-scoring affair between the Purple Eagles and the Saints.
• Siena opened the game on a 6-0 run before a three from Maggie McIntyre halved the lead, 6-3.
• Siena, however, remained in control of the first 10 minutes of play, leading Niagara 16-5 at the end of the first quarter.

Second Quarter

• Niagara went on an early 6-0 run in the second quarter, which included four points from Emerald Ekpiteta, to trail the Saints by nine, 20-11, with about six and a half minutes to play in the first half.
• The Purple Eagles allowed Siena a bucket before going on a 10-0 run, including four more points from Ekpiteta, to cut the Saints' lead to just one point, 22-21.
• A bucket from Adia Brisker and a triple from Morgan Baughman kept Niagara within two points of Siena, 28-26, going into halftime.

Third Quarter

• With a little under seven minutes to go in the third quarter, a trey from Brisker put Niagara within one point of the Saints, 31-32.
• The Saints extended their lead, 41-33, but another three from McIntyre, a bucket from Brisker and five points from Ekpiteta comprised a 10-0 run for the Purple Eagles and Niagara trailed by just one point, 43-42, at the end of the third quarter.

Fourth Quarter

• A 3-pointer from Baughman left Niagara within striking distance of the Saints, 49-47, with a little under six minutes to go in regulation.
• One foul shot from Jai Moore and two from McIntyre put the Purple Eagles ahead of Siena, 50-49, with 3:45 left to play.
• With Siena ahead 55-53, Ekpiteta was fouled with 00:01 left on the clock and went to the line for two shots. Ekpiteta sank both free throws to tie the score, 55-55, and send the game into overtime.

OT

• Ekpiteta converted a 3-point play to kick off overtime, giving Niagara a quick 58-55 lead over the Saints with a little under five minutes to play.
• McIntyre dominated the remainder of the overtime period, scoring eight points for the Purple Eagles to put them ahead of the Saints, 66-61.
• Ekpiteta made two foul shots to close out scoring in OT and the Purple Eagles came away with the 68-61 victory.

 
Eagle's Eye On…

• Ekpiteta finished with a double-double, scoring 22 points to tie her career-high and bringing down 15 rebounds. She led all scorers and also had the game-high in rebounds.
• McIntyre added 18 points for the Purple Eagles. She has scored in double figures in five games so far this season.
• McIntyre and Moore led the team in steals with three each.
• Jordan Edwards had a team-best three assists.
• Baughman added eight rebounds for NU.

Up Next

• The Purple Eagles return to the Gallagher Center on Saturday, Jan. 11 to host the Marist Red Foxes at 1:00 p.m. The game will air on ESPN3.

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