Atlantic City, N.J.—The Niagara women's basketball team fell in the MAAC Championship on Saturday evening. Niagara fell in overtime to the Stags, 70-62.

First Quarter

The Purple Eagles jumped out to a 16-10 lead in the first quarter. Aaliyah Parker had a team high six points in the first quarter while Destiny Strother had five points in the quarter. Niagara forced eight turnovers from Fairfield while Amelia Strong, Aaliyah Parker, and Chardonnay Hartley all had a steal. Ary Hicks and Aa. Parker each had two rebounds to lead Niagara. There were just seven fouls called in the quarter, Niagara went to the line six times. The Purple Eagles limited Fairfield to just 4-13 shooting. 10 of Niagara's 16 points came in the paint while having five points off turnovers. Niagara led for 9:50 of the first quarter after taking the lead 10 seconds into the game on a rebound basket.

Second Quarter

Niagara extended their lead in the second quarter as they outscored the Stags 17-12 in the quarter to take a 33-22 lead at halftime. Marlie Dickerson had a quarter high give points while Strong, and Hartley each had four points. Niagara forced another eight turnovers in the quarter while Aa. Parker recorded two steals and An. Parker and Hartley each recorded a steal. Niagara led for the entirety of the quarter and built their lead to 12 with just under two minutes left in the quarter. Niagara scored 10 points off turnovers in the quarter while also going to the paint for eight points. Niagara was led by Strong and Aa. Parker on the boards as they each had two rebounds. Fairfield was once again held to under 40% shooting in the second quarter as they went 5-13 from the field.

At the half

Niagara held an 11-point lead as Aa. Parker led all scorers with eight points. Niagara had led for 19:50 of the opening 20 minutes. Niagara forced 16 turnovers in the first half while the Purple Eagles had 15 points off the turnovers. Fairfield had zero points off seven Purple Eagle turnovers. The Purple Eagles scored more than half their points in the paint as they had 18 points in the paint. Aa. Parker led Niagara with four rebounds while also having a game high three steals.

Third Quarter

The Stags put a dent in the Niagara lead as they outscored the Purple Eagles 21-17 in the third quarter. Strong had six points in the quarter to lead Niagara while Hartley had four points. Dickerson, Glover, and Hicks all had two points. Niagara forced five turnovers while having five steals. Aa. Parker had two steals while An. Parker, Hartley, and Hicks each had a steal. Niagara pulled down 14 rebounds which includes nine offensive rebounds. Both Strong and Glover each had a team high three rebounds in the quarter. 12 of Niagara's 17 points came in the paint.

Fourth Quarter

Fairfield tied the game late in the fourth quarter as they outscored the Purple Eagles 15-8 in the fourth quarter. An. Parker had six points in the quarter while Strother accounted for the other two points. Niagara outrebounded the Stags 10-8 in the quarter while Glover came down with a quarter high five rebounds. Niagara had a chance to win the game with 3.1 seconds left but could not get a shot off before the buzzer and the game went to overtime.

Overtime

The Stags outscored the Purple Eagles 12-4 in the overtime session to take the win. Hicks and Strong both had two points in the period while Strong also recorded two steals. Niagara pulled down a pair of rebounds while An. Parker and Hartley each had one rebound.

Niagara Notes

·       Niagara appeared in the MAAC Finals for just the second time in program history and first time since the 1996-97 season.

·       Strong and An. Parker were both named to the MAAC All-Tournament Team.

·       Strong had 14 points while also pulling down nine rebounds.

·       Glover came down with 10 rebounds, it is the third straight game that she's double digit rebounds and the sixth straight that she has had nine or more rebounds.

·       Niagara forced Fairfield into 27 turnovers, which is the second most turnovers that Fairfield has committed this season. The highest was 34 turnovers against Niagara on Jan. 4.

·       The Purple Eagles had 24 points off turnovers along with 34 points in the paint in the game.

·       Aa. Parker accounted for five of Niagara's 15 steals in the game.

·       Nine Purple Eagles had points as seven of the nine had five or more points.

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