MAAC Championships
SCORE	Rider 79 – Niagara 74
RECORDS	Rider (26-4, 18-2 MAAC) – Niagara (10-21, 7-13 MAAC)
LOCATION	Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall

 
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. – The Purple Eagles dropped a heartbreaker to No. 1 Rider, 79-74, in the quarterfinals of the 2020 Hercules Tires MAAC Basketball Championships.

Game Recap
First Quarter

• A trey from Morgan Baughman with about seven a half minutes to go in the first quarter gave the Purple Eagles an early 3-2 lead over the Broncs.
• With a little under three minutes to go, Rider had a 14-12 lead over NU, but Maggie McIntyre sank a 3-point shot to put the Purple Eagles back on top, 15-14.
• A bucket from Angel Parker and another trey from McIntyre kept the Purple Eagles ahead, 20-16, and Niagara led the Broncs, 20-18 going into the second quarter.

Second Quarter

• Rider took a 24-20 lead over the Purple Eagles early in the second quarter, but a third triple from McIntyre left Niagara trailing by just one point, 24-23, with 7:30 left to play in the first half.
• Two free throws from Adia Brisker with a little under six minutes to go gave Niagara the 27-26 advantage, but the Broncs went on a 6-0 run to get ahead of NU, 32-27.
• Two points from Emerald Ekpiteta and a fourth 3-pointer from McIntyre tied things up, 32-32.
• Four straight points from Jordan Edwards left Niagara trailing the Broncs by just one point, 39-38, with a minute and a half left to play.
• A fifth triple from McIntyre as time expired in the quarter left the Purple Eagles within one point of Rider, 43-42, going into halftime.

Third Quarter

• Rider went on a 7-0 run to open the third quarter to extend its lead over the Purple Eagles, 50-42.
• Niagara, however, was undaunted. Eight points from McIntyre, including two more triples, and two free throws from Ally Haar tied the score, 57-57, with a little over a minutes and a half left in the quarter.
• Jai Moore scored four straight points to close out scoring for NU in the third and the Purple Eagles trailed Rider narrowly, 63-61, after 30 minutes of play.

Fourth Quarter

• Rider got ahead of the Purple Eagles, 69-64, but Sydney Faulcon converted a 3-point play to put NU back within two points of the Broncs, 69-67.
• Ekpiteta scored six straight points to end the quarter for Niagara as the Purple Eagles' upset bid fell short, 79-74.

Eagle's Eye On…

• McIntyre led the Purple Eagles in scoring with 23 points. She made a career-high seven 3-pointers, which is tied for the most triples made in a MAAC tournament game.
• Ekpiteta had a double-double with 14 points and a team-high 13 rebounds. She also led the team in steals with five, which tied her career-high.
• Moore also added 14 points.

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