Niagara University, N.Y.—The Niagara women's basketball team opened the 2023-24 season with an exhibition against the Mercyhurst Lakers on Wednesday night at the Gallagher Center. The Purple Eagles used 24 steals and forced 47 turnovers in a 91-61 win over the Lakers.

First Quarter

Niagara led for majority of the opening quarter as they led for 7:16 of the 10 minutes. Niagara went on a 6-0 run at the midway point of the frame. Niagara outscored the Lakers 22-15 in the first quarter. Destiny Strother was the leading scorer for the Purple Eagles in her first quarter as a Purple Eagles, she scored seven points on 2-4 shooting including a three. Niagara pulled down 13 boards in the opening quarter including six on the offensive side, Chardonnay Hartley, Aaliyah Parker, and Alyssa Rossignol all grabbed three rebounds to lead the team. Niagara forced nine Mercyhurst turnovers in the opening 10 minutes.

Second Quarter

The Purple Eagles once again outscored the Lakers in the second half 26-23 as they led for 9:17 of the 10 minutes while the teams were tied for the other 43 seconds. Both Strong and Hartley had six points to lead the Purple Eagles. The steals picked up in the second quarter for the Purple Eagles as they had eight steals while forcing 12 turnovers from the Lakers. Parker and Lore Porter accounted for two of the steals while Strong, Hartley, Strother, and Lexi Roe all had one steal in the quarter. Niagara scored 10 of its 26 points from the line while the rest came from two-point shots. Niagara had 12 points off turnovers and 12 points in the paint.

At the Half

Niagara led 48-38 at the half with Hartley leading the way with 12 points while Strong had 11 points. Niagara had 22 points off turnovers in the first half along with 24 points in the paint. The Purple Eagles forced 21 turnovers with 10 steals.

Third Quarter

In the third quarter, the Purple Eagles increased their 10-point lead to 20 as they outscored the Lakers 20-10 in the third. Niagara used six different scorers to increase their lead with freshman Kylie Buckley and Hartley both having five points to lead the team. Niagara forced 15 turnovers in the third while turning the ball over just six times. Niagara had 10 steals with Hartley notching four and Roe three to lead the way. Off the 15 forced turnovers Niagara scored 16 points. 12 of the 20 Purple Eagle points came from the charity stripe in the third.

Fourth Quarter

Niagara closed out the game in the fourth as they once again outscored the Lakers by 10, 23-13. Nine Purple Eagles scored in the fourth while Parker led the team with six points. Buckley knocked down three free throws for three points while Hartley, Strother, Porter, Rossignol, Shelby Fiddler, Marlie Dickerson, and Roe all had two points. Niagara scored 15 of their 23 points off turnovers with eight coming on second chances and in the paint. Niagara had five offensive rebounds in the quarter.

Niagara Notes

·       Hartley had a game high 19 points in her Purple Eagle debut, she made four field goals while making 11 shots from the free throw line. She also pulled down nine rebounds and was +21 when on the court.

·       Rossignol recorded a double-double in her first collegiate action as she had 12 points and 10 rebounds in just under 23 minutes.

·       Niagara forced 47 turnovers in the game with 24 steals. In 2022-23 Niagara averaged 28.1 forced turnovers and 15.2 steals per game, both of which were the best in the nation.

·       Eight of the 10 Purple Eagles who saw action recorded at least one steal with seven of the 10 recording multiple steals.

·       Niagara held the lead for 37:04 of the 40 minutes, there was just one lead change the game was tied just once.

·       The Purple Eagles scored 53 points off turnovers along with scoring 40 points in the paint.

·       Hartley, Strother, Buckley, and Rossignol all made their Purple Eagles debuts and combined for 50 points and 25 rebounds.

·       Five Purple Eagles had double digit points.

Up Next

Niagara opens the regular season on Wednesday Nov. 8 as they host Little Three rival St. Bonaventure at the Gallagher Center. Prior to the 6 PM tipoff the Purple Eagles will unveil their 2022-23 WNIT banner.

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