Niagara University, N.Y.—The Niagara women's basketball team picked up their second win of the season as they defeated the Stonehill Skyhawks 71-69 on Sunday afternoon.

First Quarter

Niagara outscored the Skyhawks 22-19 in the first quarter while Ameilia Strong had eight points to lead the team. Shelby Fiddler hit a pair of threes in the first quarter as she had six points. Niagara forced five turnovers in the first quarter with Chardonnay Hartley and Destiny Strother both coming away with a steal. Niagara turned the five turnovers into eight points. Niagara also had 10 points from their bench and 10 points in the paint in the opening quarter. Strong went 4-4 from the free throw line as she was the only Purple Eagle to go to the charity stripe. Niagara held the lead for just over six minutes in the quarter as there were two lead changes and four times in which the game was tied.

Second Quarter

Stonehill came out firing in the second quarter as they were 7-11 from the field and outscored Niagara 19-12 in the second quarter. Three Purple Eagles had points as Saige Glover, Kylie Buckley, and Strother all had four points in the quarter. Niagara forced eight turnovers in the second quarter with six coming from steals. Glover, Strother, Fiddler, Marlie Dickerson, and Alyssa Rossignol all had a steal. All 12 Niagara points came in the paint in the second quarter.

At the Half

Niagara trailed by four at the half with Strong leading the way with eight points for Niagara. Glover, Fiddler and Buckley all had six points in the set.

The Purple Eagles forced 13 turnovers in the first half with eight steals. 16 of Niagara's points came off turnovers while 22 points were in the paint.

Third Quarter

In the third quarter Niagara chipped away at the Stonehill lead as they outscored the Skyhawks 17-15 in the quarter. The Purple Eagles used six different scorers in the quarter as they were led by Buckley and Strong who both had five points. Hartley had two points in the quarter while Ary Hicks and Fiddler both had two points as well. Niagara had two blocks in the quarter as Strong and Strother were both credited with a block. Stonehill turned the ball over nine points in the quarter while Niagara had six steals. Strong had two steals while Glover, Hartley, Porter and Dickerson all had one steal. The Purple Eagles had five offensive rebounds while Strong had a team high two.

Fourth Quarter

Niagara took the lead late in the fourth quarter as they outscored Stonehill 20-16 in the fourth quarter. Hicks had seven points with five coming from the free throw line in the furth quarter. Strother chipped in five points while Glover and Buckley each had four points. Niagara went to paint for 12 points while also pulling down 13 boards. Glover had five rebounds in the fourth quarter. The Purple Eagles also had four steals with Hartley having two and Hicks and Rossignol having a steal. The Purple Eagles were +7 with Rossignol on the court despite her not recording a point.

Niagara Notes

·       Four Purple Eagles had double digit scoring as Buckley had a team high 15 points, Strong had 13 points, Hicks had 11 points, and Glover had 10. In every game this season, Niagara has had four Purple Eagles in double digits for points.

·       Hicks made her season debut and had 11 points, three rebounds, and two assists.

·       Niagara had a season high 26 points off turnovers, they are averaging 18.75 points off turnovers this season.

·       The Purple Eagles forced 26 turnovers which is a new season high for Niagara.

·       Niagara had 42 points in the paint, it is the second straight game that Niagara had 40 or more points in the paint.  

·       Five Purple Eagles are averaging double digit points this season (Aaliyah Parker (14.7), Hartley (13.3), Strother (11.5), Hicks (11.0), Strong (10.5)). Last season just two Purple Eagles had double digit scoring averages.

·       Buckley set a career high with 15 points in her freshman season. She also pulled down five rebounds, had two blocks while also having a steal.

·       Niagara had 35 points from the bench.

·       It was the first time that Niagara faced Stonehill.

·       At halftime, Niagara honored former Niagara women's basketball player Victoria Rampado who was induced into the Niagara Athletics Hall of Fame on Saturday night.

Up Next

The Purple Eagles travel to Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands for the inaugural Cayman Island Classic. Niagara faces #7 LSU on Friday Nov. 24 and #3 UCLA on Nov. 25 in the Cayman Islands. Live stats will be available on purpleeagles.com while the games will be streamed on Flosports.

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