Niagara University, N.Y.—The Niagara women's basketball team hosted Fairfield in their first home MAAC game of the season on Thursday. The Purple Eagles fell 77-54 to the Stags who entered the week ranked 12th in the Mid-Major poll.
First Quarter
The Stags took a 31-8 lead in the first quarter as they shot 73.3% from the field along with 75% from three with six threes in the quarter. Niagara had just two field goals in the first quarter as Chardonnay Hartley and Aaliyah Parker each had a field goal. Both Aaliyah and Hartley had three points while Saige Glover had two points. The Purple Eagles forced nine turnovers in the first quarter while Hartley and Angel Parker each had two steals.
Second Quarter
In the second quarter Fairfield extended the lead as they outscored Niagara 14-8. Hartley and Kylie Buckley each had two points while Destiny Strother had three points. Strong hit one free throw in the quarter. Niagara forced nine turnovers in the quarter while having four steals. Ary Hicks had a team high two steals. Glover and Angel also both had a steal in the quarter.
At the half
Niagara forced 18 turnovers in the first half while having eight steals. Angel led the way with three steals while Hartley and Hicks each had two. Hartley was the leading scorer for Niagara with five points while Aaliyah and Strother each had three points.
Third Quarter
Niagara outscored the Stags 16-12 in the third quarter as Strong had six points while pulling down eight rebounds in the quarter. Lore Porter had five points with one three and a pair of free throws. Hartley added three points in the quarter while Aaliyah also had three points. The Purple Eagles out rebounded the Stags 11-9 in the quarter while pulling down seven offensive boards. Niagara had nine points off turnovers in the third quarter while limiting Fairfield to just one.
Fourth Quarter
The Purple Eagles once again outscored the Stags in the fourth quarter 22-20 but could not catch the Stags on the scoreboard. Aaliyah had a team high six in the fourth quarter while Angel had four, Porter and Hartley three, and Strong, Hicks, and Glover each having two. Niagara forced seven turnovers in the quarter while committing just one. Both Hartley and Aaliyah had two steals in the final 10 minutes. Niagara shot 47.4% from the field in the fourth quarter.
Niagara Notes
· Strong set a new career high in rebounds as she pulled down 11 which included nine on of the offensive side.
· Both Hartley and Aaliyah had 11 points to lead the team.
· Niagara forced Fairfield into 34 turnovers which is the most they have had this season. It is also the most turnovers the Purple Eagles have forced this season.
· The Purple Eagles had 27 points of turnovers, it was their fifth game with 25 or more points of turnovers which includes three of their last four games.
· Niagara hosted kid's day and had an attendance of 1,754 which is the highest attendance since Jan. 9, 2020 when Niagara packed 2,100 into the Gallagher Center for kids day.
Up Next
The Purple Eagles return to the Gallagher Center on Saturday as they host Mount St. Mary's with tipoff scheduled for 2 PM.
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