Cleveland, OH—The Niagara women's basketball team fell on Wednesday night the reigning Horizon League champions Cleveland State by a score of 87-56.
First Quarter
The Vikings took an early lead in the first quarter as they outscored Niagara 19-8 in the opening 10 minutes. Amelia Strong had four points in the opening quarter for Niagara as she hit a pair of field goals. Lore Porter hit the first three of the game for the Purple Eagles. Saige Glover added a free throw for the Purple Eagles. Niagara had five rebounds in the first quarter as three were offensive, Strong, Glover, and Aaliyah Parker all had an offensive board. Niagara forced 10 turnovers in the first quarter.
Second Quarter
Niagara scored 20 points in the second quarter while Cleveland State extended their lead by just three points. Destiny Strother went 2-4 from three along with hitting a two as she had a team high eight points in the second quarter. Glover went 2-3 from the field while hitting a pair of free throws for six points in the quarter. Parker had four points while Strong also added two points. Niagara had two blocks in the quarter as Parker had one and Chardonnay Hartley recorded her first career block. Niagara shot 8-15 from the field in the second quarter.
At the half
Strother had a team high eight points while Glover had seven, Strong had six, Parker had four, and Porter had three. Niagara had 11 rebounds with Ary Hicks having three to lead the team. Niagara forced 14 turnovers in the first half with four steals.
Third Quarter
Cleveland State once again increased their lead in the third quarter as they outscored Niagara 25-16. Strother hit a pair of threes in the quarter along with hitting two free throws for eight points in the quarter. Alyssa Rossignol had four points in the quarter as she went 2-2 from the field. Glover and Parker had two points each in the quarter. The Purple Eagles had eight rebounds with Glover leading the way with two rebounds.
Fourth Quarter
Niagara could not mount a comeback in the fourth quarter as Cleveland State outscored the Purple Eagles 20-12. Hicks had four points in the quarter with Strong, Hartley, Strother, and Marlie Dickerson each having two points each. Niagara made four of their eight shots from the field while also hitting four free throws. Eight of Niagara's 12 points came in the paint in the fourth quarter. Niagara forced six turnovers in the quarter.
Niagara Notes
· Strother finished with 18 points to lead Niagara, it is the fifth time this season that she has had double digit scoring.
· Niagara forced 25 turnovers. The 25 turnovers is the most turnovers that Cleveland State has had this season. Niagara is averaging 22.6 forced turnovers per game which leads the MAAC.
· Hartley recorded her first career block in her 38th career game.
· Nine Purple Eagles scored at least one point.
· Parker returned to the lineup after missing five games. She had six points while shooting 3-6 in just over 16 minutes. She also pulled down three rebounds and dished out one assist. She also notched two steals.
· Niagara had 11 assists, it is the seventh time this season that Niagara has had double digit assists.
Up Next
Niagara enters MAAC play on Dec. 16 as they face reigning MAAC champion Iona on the road at 1 PM.
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