New Rochelle, NY—The Niagara women's basketball team closed out their first MAAC road weekend against Iona on Monday afternoon. The Purple Eagles fell to the Gaels 63-53 despite outscoring Iona 22-15 in the fourth quarter.
Game Recap
First Quarter

• The Purple Eagles fell behind early after scoring the first point but responded later in the quarter. Iona held the slim 14-12 lead after the opening 10 minutes.
• Six Purple Eagles scored in the opening period while Lore Porter hit a three lead the team.
• The Purple Eagles recorded five steals in the first quarter with Marlie Dickerson getting credited with two of them.
• Five of the 12 Niagara points came from players off the bench while Niagara scored four points in the paint and four off of turnovers.

Second Quarter

• Iona took control of the game in the second quarter as they held the Purple Eagles to 11 points while scoring 20 of their own.
• Angel Parker seven of the 11 Purple Eagle points as she went 3-4 from the field along with 1-1 from three point land.
• Despite being outscored the Purple Eagles forced six turnovers which included three steals.
• Niagara pulled down six rebounds in the second with three of them being on the offensive side.
• At half the Purple Eagles trailed 34-23 with Parker leading Niagara with eight points.

Third Quarter

• The Gaels continued to build their lead in the third as they outscored the Purple Eagles 14-8 in the frame.
• Parker and Brooklyn Jones who made her first start of the year each had three points in the third quarter as they both hit a field goal and a free throw. Sydney Faulcon had the other two points in the quarter as she went 1-3 from the field.
• The Purple Eagles out rebounded Iona in the third by pulling down 14 boards with eight of them being offensive boards. Jones had three on the offensive side and added one of the defensive side to lead the Purple Eagles in the third.
• Ary Hicks recorded a block while the Purple Eagles forced seven turnovers with five steals.

Fourth Quarter

• The comeback was on for Niagara in the fourth quarter as they outscored Iona 22-15 in the frame.
• Both Nickelle O'Neil and Parker led all scorers in the frame with eight points each. O'Neil used the three ball to claw the Purple Eagles back into the game as she went 2-2 from behind the arc.
• Niagara forced 11 turnovers in the fourth quarter which was supplemented with six steals including two from Saige Glover and two from O'Neil.
• The Purple Eagles had 11 points off turnovers while also having 10 points in the paint.

Niagara Notes

• Parker led the way for the Purple Eagles while she had a team high 19 points while also pulling down six rebounds. She also forced defenders to foul her often as she drew eight of the 14 Iona fouls.
• Niagara scored 19 points off turnovers while forcing 30 turnovers for the third straight game. They have also forced 30 or more turnovers four of the last five games. This season the Purple Eagles average 24.17 points per game off turnovers.
• The Purple Eagles still hold a 9.50 turnover margin which is the best in the MAAC and in the top 10 in the nation.
• Niagara also tallies 14.75 steals per game which is tops in the MAAC and also top 10 in the NCAA.
• Parker is now third in the conference in scoring as she averages 15.2 points per game, she trails just her sister Aaliyah Parker (16.4) and Callie Cavanaugh (Fairfield, 17.9).

Up Next

• Niagara returns home on Thursday for a Kids Day matchup with Quinnipiac, tipoff is scheduled for 11 AM at the Gallagher Center.