NIAGARA UNIVERSITY — The Niagara Women’s Basketball team opened conference play at home as they hosted the Marist Red Foxes. The Purple Eagles fell 63-55 to the Red Foxes.
Game Recap
First Quarter
- The Purple Eagles and Red Foxes were locked in a good game right from the start as Marist held a slight 20-18 lead after the opening 10 minutes.
- Brooklyn Jones led the Purple Eagles with five points in the first quarter while she also added an assist and a steal. Maddy Yelle, Angel Parker, Aaliyah Parker, Lore Porter, and Amelia Strong all had points in the first as well.
- Niagara also had four steals as a team while they forced nine Marist turnovers.
- Marist took the lead early in the quarter and held a lead as high as six before the Purple Eagles cut it to two at the end of the quarter.
Second Quarter
- After the Purple Eagles trailed after the opening ten minutes, they responded by winning the second quarter 12-10, at halftime the teams were tied at 30.
- The scoring in the second quarter for the Purple Eagles was once again spread throughout the team as Yelle had a team high five points. Angel, Aaliyah, Strong, and Nickelle O’Neil all had points in the frame.
- At halftime, Yelle led all scorers with nine points while Jones and Angel both had five points each.
- The Purple Eagles outscored the Red Foxes in the paint as they had 12 points in the paint.
- Niagara had 11 steals in the first half while forcing 18 Marist turnovers. Yelle and O’Neil both had three steals to lead the Purple Eagles.
Third Quarter
- The two teams traded haymakers in the third quarter as there was four lead changes and the teams were tied twice.
- Niagara forced nine Marist turnovers with five of them being Purple Eagles steals. Niagara made the most of the turnovers as they had 10 of their 14 points off turnovers.
- O’Neil had eight points in the frame as she led all scorers in the third. Saige Glover, Aaliyah, and Strong each had two points. Niagara trailed by five following the third quarter.
Fourth Quarter
- Niagara struggled in the fourth quarter to complete their comeback as they shot just 4-18 from the field which included 0-4 from behind the arc.
- Angel led Niagara in the fourth quarter with seven points while also collecting two rebounds.
- Of the 11 Niagara points, eight of the points were in the pant while the Purple Eagles also had four points off turnovers.
- Angel led the Purple Eagles with 12 points while also having six rebounds.
Niagara Notes
- Niagara forced 34 turnovers in the loss, it is the second straight games that the Purple Eagles had 30+ forced turnovers. They have forced 30+ turnovers in the four games this season and 25 or more tunrnovers in all but one game this season.
- Aaliyah, O’Neil, and Yelle all had four steals, Aaliyah also added the teams lone block of the game.
- Aaliyah and Angel are now second and third in the MAAC in scoring as they are averaging 15.6 and 14.9 points per game this season. Aaliyah is still leading the MAAC with 4.0 steals per game.
- The Purple Eagles still have the best turnover margin in the MAAC at 8.89 while also having the most steals (123) and best steals per game average (13.67).
- Lore Porter returned to the lineup for the first time since 11/12 and played just under 16 minutes and Niagara was +16 with her on the court.
- Strong made her first appearance since 11/16 and pulled down four rebounds and added a steal in just over 15 minutes.
- Niagara went deep into their bench as they used 12 players on Saturday.
Up Next
- The Purple Eagles are back at home on Monday as they host Rider at 6 PM in their final game before the holiday break.
