Amherst, N.Y.—The Niagara women's basketball team traveled to Amherst to face Big Four rival Buffalo at Alumni Arena. Niagara fell to the Bulls 92-75.

First Quarter

The Purple Eagles trailed by five after the opening 10 minutes with six different Purple Eagles notching points to open the game. Aaliyah Parker led Niagara scores as she had five points on 2-3 shooting while also hitting a free throw. Chardonnay Hartley and Alyssa Rossignol both had four points while Lore Porter hit one free to open the game. Amelia Strong and Saige Glover both had points for the Purple Eagles.

Niagara forced three turnovers in the first with two coming from steals, Glover and Rossignol both earned steals. Niagara pulled down six rebounds in the quarter with three coming on the offensive and three on defensive side. Rossignol had a team-high two boards.

Second Quarter

 Niagara responded in the second quarter by outscoring the Bulls 24-18 and took a one point lead into halftime. Hartley turned it on in the second quarter and had 11 of her 20 points in the second quarter. She should 2-3 from the field and went 6-6 at the free throw line. Parker had six points with two free throws and two made field goals.

The Purple and White outrebounded the Bulls in the second quarter as they came down with 10 rebounds which included eight on the defensive side. Parker and Kylie Buckley each had two rebounds while Destiny Strother, Rossignol, and Glover all had one rebound. Niagara had 10 points in the pain in the second quarter that saw five lead changes and six tied scores.

At the Half

Niagara held a 43-42 lead over the Bulls while shooting 50% from the field and 60% from three. The Purple Eagles also outrebounded the Bulls 16-12 in the half. Hartley had a game high 15 at the break while Parker had 11. Six Purple Eagles had multiple points in the half.

Third Quarter

Buffalo outscored Niagara 25-12 in the third quarter to take a 12 point lead into the fourth quarter. Glover had a team high six points in the quarter with two free throws and two field goals. Niagara had three steals in the quarter with Parker having two and Porter notching one.

Niagara scored eight points in the paint in the third and had six points from the bench.

Fourth Quarter

Niagara looked for a comeback in the fourth quarter but Buffalo outscored Niagara 25-20 to close out the game. Strong had eight of the team's 20 points while Strother had four, Parker and Hartley three and Buckley chipped in two. Niagara pulled down seven rebounds and had seven second chance points on three offensive rebounds.

Hartley had two steals while Parker also had a steal in the fourth quarter. Niagara shot 52.9% from the field in the fourth quarter while also hitting two free throws.

Niagara Notes

·       Hartley had a team high 20 points, after having eight in the season opener, she has now had back-to-back 20+ point games.

·       Niagara notched 46 points in the paint which set a new season high.

·       Four players had double digit points for the third straight game. Hartley had 20, Parker 18, Strong 11, and Glover 10.

·       Niagara went to the free throw line 27 times which is the most this season, they made 20 free throws which sets a new season high.

·       The Purple Eagles shot 48.1% from the field which is their best percentage of the season.

·       There were 11 lead changes and eight tied scores in the game.

·       Niagara's 75 points against UB is the most against the Bulls in the last five matchups.

·       The Purple Eagles are averaging 76.3 points per game in 2023-24.

Up Next

Niagara returns to the Gallagher Center on Sunday as they host Stonehill at 1 PM.

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