Riverdale, N.Y.—The Niagara women's basketball team notched their sixth straight win on Thursday as they took down the Manhattan Jaspers 88-63 on the road.
First Quarter
The Purple Eagles jumped out to a 21-16 lead in the first quarter as 11 Purple Eagles appeared in the quarter. Alyssa Rossignol led Niagara in the opening 10 minutes as she had four points on 2-2 shooting. Aaliyah Parker had three points in the quarter while Amelia Strong, Angel Parker, Marlie Dickerson, Chardonnay Hartley, Ary Hicks, Lore Porter, and Shelby Fiddler all had two points. Niagara forced eight turnovers in the quarter while having four steals. Aaliyah had a pair of steals for Niagara while Hicks and Saige Glover each had a steal. Niagara shot 10-18 in the first quarter while the Purple Eagles scored 12 points in the paint.
Second Quarter
Niagara increased their lead by one in the second quarter as they outscored Manhattan 21-20. Niagara was led by Porter in the quarter as she had seven points, Dickerson and Fiddler both had five points while Hartley had the other four points for Niagara. Niagara made four three-pointers in the quarter while making eight total field goals. Niagara forced another eight turnovers in the quarter while having five steals. Angel had two steals while Aaliyah, Destiny Strother, and Dickerson all had a steal. Niagara scored 10 points off turnovers while having eight points in the paint. The Purple Eagles were credited with eight assists in the quarter as Angel, Aaliyah, and Hartley each had two assists.
At the half
After the first half, Niagara led 42-36 while forcing 16 turnovers in 20 minutes. Porter led all scorers with nine points in the half while nine Purple Eagles had points. Niagara had 16 points off turnovers in the half while 20 points were in the paint. Niagara's bench players accounted for 28 points in the first half.
Third Quarter
Niagara outscored the Jaspers 25-16 in the third quarter as Niagara hit four threes along with seven free throws while going 7-12 from the field. Hartley had eight points in the quarter as she went 2-2 from three along with two free throws. Manhattan turned the ball over nine times in the quarter while Niagara scored 13 points off the turnovers. The Purple Eagles were credited with five steals with Angel having two and Aaliyah, Strother, and Porter each having a steal. Niagara committed just four fouls in the quarter while not allowing Manhattan to go the free throw line.
Fourth Quarter
The Purple and White secured the win in the fourth quarter as they nearly doubled up the Jaspers as they outscored Manhattan 21-11. Niagara limited the Jaspers to just 3-11 shooting while they shot 8-16 from the field. Hartley led all scorers with 10 points as she had a pair of threes while making two two pointers. Niagara forced seven turnovers while having three steals. Aaliyah, Dickerson, and Hartley each had a steal. Six Purple Eagles scored in the quarter while Niagara outrebounded Manhattan 10-9. Niagara had five offensive rebounds and had nine second chance points.
Niagara Notes
· With the win, Niagara head coach Jada Pierce picked up her 100th win as the head coach of Niagara. She is just the third Niagara head coach to reach 100 wins with Niagara.
· Hartley scored a career high 24 points as the Harlem, N.Y. native returned to New York City. She shot 8-13 from the field while going 5-5 from three and hitting three free throws. She also dished out four assists while having a steal.
· Niagara scored a season-high 88 points as they hit a season-high 12 threes. Niagara also had a season-high 24 assists. Aaliyah and Hicks both had five assists to lead Niagara. Seven Purple Eagles had an assist.
· The Purple Eagles forced 32 turnovers while having 17 steals, Aaliyah had a game high five steals.
· Niagara shot 52.4% from the field which is a season best.
· Niagara also shot 57.1% from three which is a new season best.
· The Purple Eagles led for just under 35 minutes of the game.
· 57 of Niagara's 88 points came from bench players, which is a new season high.
· Niagara scored 33 points off turnovers, this season Niagara averages 24.3 points off turnovers.
· Glover had a team high six rebounds.
· Aaliyah pulled down four rebounds and now sits at 493 career rebounds.
· Angel had four steals and now has 313 career steals which places her second all-time in Niagara history. She is just three from tying Stacie Kane with 316 career steals.
· Niagara improves to 37-33 all-time against Manhattan. Niagara has now won three straight games on the road against Manhattan. Niagara is 3-2 in the last two seasons against Manhattan.
· The Purple Eagles improve to 9-4 in MAAC and 12-11 overall. They are currently in third place in the MAAC.
Up Next
Niagara now has another week off before returning to the Gallagher Center on Thursday, Feb. 15 as they host Siena at 6 PM. Niagara then hosts Marist on Saturday with tip schedule for 2 PM.
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