Fairfield, C.T.- The Niagara women's basketball team fell as they faced the MAAC regular season champions Fairfield, 95-65.

First Quarter

Niagara fell behind in the first Quarter 21-16. Destiny Strother was the leading scorer for the Purple Eagles as she had seven points, she hit three field goals including one three-pointer. Three other Purple Eagles found the stat sheet including Aaliyah Parker who had four, Angel Parker who recorded three, and Marlie Dickerson who recorded two. Niagara managed to record eight forced turnovers and scored six points off turnovers. The Purple Eagles had four steals, two coming from Dickerson.

Second Quarter

In the second quarter, the Purple and White scored 10 points, Amelia Strong, An. Parker, Strother, Chardonnay Hartley, and Ary Hicks all registered two. Rebounds were tied at eight apiece, leading the team in rebounds was Strong and Saige Glover who both had two. Strother had the lone block in the quarter.

At the half

The Stags lead was up to 19 at the half. The Purple Eagles leading scorer at half was Strother who had nine followed by Aa. Parker which recorded five. At the halfway point Niagara was forced to shoot 36.7% from the field. The Purple and White forced 11 turnovers, of which five were steals. Five different Purple Eagles registered a steal.

Third Quarter

Niagara put up 22 in the third quarter. Three different Purple Eagles scored five-plus points. Aa. Parker did not miss a single basket in the third quarter including two from the field and three from the charity stripe. Aa. Parker led the team with steals in the third quarter with three. Niagara scored 12 points in the paint and eight points from turnovers.

Fourth Quarter

The Purple Eagles could not complete the comeback in the game despite putting up 17 points in the fourth. Aa. Parker scored 10 of Niagara's 17 points. Niagara outscored Fairfield in both points from turnovers and second-chance points. The Purple Eagles scored eight points from turnovers and five second-chance points. The Purple and White forced five turnovers despite only having one steal from Hartley.

Niagara Notes

·       The Purple Eagles winning streak stopped at nine games, which was the same amount as last year's winning streak.

·       Aa. Parker was the leading scorer for Niagara, she did not miss a single shot from the free throw line where she went 11-11. She set a new season-high 11 free throws made and attempts.

·       The Purple and White scored 24 points off turnovers, they are now averaging 24.8 points off turnovers.

·       The Purple Eagles still stand at the top of Division I for turnovers forced per game averaging 26.92 points per game. They are averaging 2.73 more turnovers forced per game than the second-placed team in the country.

·       Niagara also sits at the top of steals per game averaging 14.9 steals per game.

·       The Purple Eagles are in sole possession of second in the MAAC as they are 12-5 in MAAC play. They are one game up on Siena who currently sits at 11-6 in MAAC play.

·       Niagara has scored 60 plus points in 22 games this season out of the 27 they have played.

·       The last time a Purple Eagle went 100% from the free throw line was on 12/02/23, which was Chardonnay Hartley who went 12-12.

Up Next

The Purple Eagles close out the regular season with three straight home games. Niagara starts the stretch against Rider on Thursday, tip is scheduled for 6 PM.

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