George Town, Cayman Islands—The Niagara women's basketball team closed out the Cayman Island Classic on Saturday afternoon as they took on UCLA who entered the game as the second ranked team in the country. Niagara fell to the Bruins 97-46.
First Quarter
Niagara struggled from the field in the opening quarter as Destiny Strother had all five Niagara points as UCLA took a 27-5 lead. Strother hit a pair of free throws along with a three. Niagara forced seven turnovers in the first quarter with three Niagara steals. Amelia Strong, Chardonnay Hartley, and Ary Hicks all had a steal in the quarter.
Second Quarter
The Purple Eagles scored 11 points in the second quarter as UCLA extended their lead and led 50-16 at halftime. Hicks had a team high three points in the quarter for the Purple Eagles while Saige Glover, Lore Porter, and Kylie Buckley all had two points. Strong and Alyssa Rossignol each had one point in the quarter. Niagara forced six turnovers from UCLA while having four steals. Strong, Hartley, Buckley, and Shelby Fiddler each had one steal.
At the half
Strother had a team high five points while seven different Purple Eagles scored for the Purple Eagles. Niagara forced 13 UCLA turnovers in the first half. Niagara had 10 offensive rebounds in the first half.
Third Quarter
Niagara was barely edged out by UCLA in the third quarter as UCLA outscored the Purple Eagles 24-22 in the frame. Strother had a quarter high 11 points as she had three threes along with two free throws. Hartley also had six points as she hit one three along with a two and free throw. Strong had three points while Hicks also had two points in the quarter. UCLA turned the ball over eight times in the quarter as Glover and Strother each had a steal. Niagara had eight points off turnovers while UCLA had just six off turnovers. Shelby Fiddler had three assists in the third quarter while Hicks also had two.
Fourth Quarter
UCLA closed out the game by outscoring Niagara 23-8 in the fourth quarter. Hartley and Rossignol each had three points while Glover also had two points. Niagara did not allow UCLA an offensive rebound in the fourth quarter as Niagara pulled down five offensive rebounds in the quarter. Rossignol had the lone Niagara steal as there were five UCLA turnovers.
Niagara Notes
· It was the first time that Niagara had played UCLA and the first time they have faced a team from the PAC-12.
· Niagara forced UCLA into 26 turnovers which is a new season high for the Bruins.
· The Purple Eagles have forced 20+ turnovers in five of six games this season.
· Strother had 16 points in the game, it is her fourth game this season with double digit scoring. She is averaging 12.2 points per game this season.
· Niagara had 18 offensive rebounds which is the second most they have had this season. It is the most offensive rebounds that UCLA has allowed this season.
· Hartley was named to the All-Tournament team as she averaged 13.5 points per game along with four steals and five rebounds. She also dished out eight assists.
· Niagara 18 steals in the two games in the Cayman Islands while forcing both #7 LSU and #2 into season highs in turnovers.
Up Next
Niagara travels back stateside before taking on #20 Maryland on Wednesday in College Park, MD at 7 PM. The Purple Eagles then return to the Gallagher Center on Dec. 2 for their final home game of 2023 as they take on Radford at 2 PM.
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