Niagara University, N.Y.—The Niagara Women's Basketball team returned to Gallagher Center for the first time Nov. 12 as they host Big Four Rival Buffalo. The Bulls fended off the Purple Eagles as they fell 63-58.
Game Recap
First Quarter

• The local rivals got off to a fast start as the score was 21-14 after the opening ten minutes. Niagara trailed by seven after the first.
• Aaliyah Parker and Sydney Faulcon led the way for the Purple Eagles as they each had five points in the first quarter. Saige Glover and Maddy Yelle also had two points.
• Niagara pulled down seven rebounds to start the game. Jade Rutledge, Aaliyah, and Faulcon all pulled down two rebounds while Nickelle O'Neil came down with one board. Faulcon had two offensive boards as well.

Second Quarter

• In the second quarter, the teams slowed down as there was a combined 16 points with Buffalo outscoring Niagara 9-7.
• Of the seven Niagara points Aaliyah had four points while Rutledge had two points and Yelle hit a single free throw.
• The Purple Eagles forced six turnovers in the second quarter while registering just one steal, Rutledge came away with the steal.
• At halftime Niagara trailed 30-21 while Aaliyah had a game high nine points along with four rebounds.

Third Quarter

• The Niagara defense came alive in the third quarter as they forced 15 turnovers in the third quarter alone.
• Off the 15 steals Niagara had six steals with Aaliyah having three steals with Rutledge adding two.
• In the third Niagara went 8-10 from the charity stripe with Rutledge and Angel Parker each going 3-4 from the line. Yelle went 2-2 from the line.

Fourth Quarter

• In the fourth quarter Angel Parker took over as she had 17 points as she went 6-12 from the field and 5-7 from the line.
• Angel scored 17 of the team 23 points while O'Neil, Yelle, and Marlie Dickerson each had two points.
• The Purple Eagles outscored the Bulls 23-16 in the fourth quarter but their comeback came up just short. Niagara also had 12 points off turnovers along with 14 points from the paint and 17 points from the paint.

Niagara Notes

• Angel led all scorers with 20 points in just under 18 minutes of game time. She also added one rebound while drawing eight fouls.
• The Purple Eagles also forced a season high 35 turnovers while adding 12 steals. Aaliyah led all players with four steals.
• Niagara also went 17-22 from the free throw line, the 17 makes is a new season high for the Purple Eagles.
• The Purple Eagles have a 9.25 turnover margin which leads the MAAC with the closest team being Siena who is at 2.89.
• Niagara also averages 13.13 steals per game which is also tops in the MAAC.

Up Next

• The Purple Eagles have the next 10 days off before they open MAAC play with a Saturday matchup with Marist.