MORGANTOWN, W.V. – The Niagara women's basketball team struggled to find its offensive rhythm Saturday afternoon, falling 110-41 to No. 16 West Virginia at the WVU Coliseum.
 
How it Happened
Amelia Strong led the Purple Eagles (0-2) with 13 points and six rebounds in 29 minutes, providing one of the few bright spots for Niagara in their second straight loss to open the season. The Purple Eagles shot just 30.8 percent from the field and committed 44 turnovers against West Virginia's aggressive defense.
 
Niagara kept things competitive early, taking a brief 5-2 lead in the first quarter behind Safiatu Kolliegbo's 3-pointer. However, West Virginia responded with a dominant run and led 27-9 after the opening period.
 
Marlie Dickerson added five points, seven rebounds and five assists for Niagara, while Kolliegbo finished with seven points despite battling foul trouble. The Purple Eagles were particularly challenged in the second quarter, scoring just six points on 1-of-13 shooting as West Virginia extended its lead.
 
Niagara showed improved offensive execution in the second half, scoring 26 points over the final two quarters, but couldn't overcome the large deficit. The Purple Eagles finished with 31 rebounds and eight steals in the loss.
 
Niagara Notes
• Niagara drops to 0-3 all-time against West Virginia.
• The Purple Eagles had 44 turnovers, their first game with 35 or more turnovers since Feb. 17, 2018 at Syracuse.
• Strong has recorded double-digit points in each game this season.
 
Up Next
Niagara will travel to Penn State for an 11:30 a.m. tip on Thursday, Nov. 14 at University Park, Pa.
 
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