RIVERDALE — The Niagara Women’s Basketball team returned from the holiday break and hit the road to face the Manhattan Jaspers in a MAAC matchup, the Purple Eagles earned their second MAAC win of the season.
Game Recap
First Half
- In the opening quarter of the game the two teams battled to a one-point game. Niagara led 19-18 in the opening 10 minutes.
- Saige Glover and Angel Parker both had five points in the first quarter while a total of five Purple Eagles scored in the opening frame.
- The Purple Eagles went to the line 14 times in the first quarter and hit seven free throws.
- Niagara forced 14 turnovers in the first quarter while 10 of them came from steals. Aaliyah Parker, Angel, Maddy Yelle, and Marlie Dickerson all had two steals to start the game.
Second Quarter
- The scoring slowed down in the second quarter as Niagara had the 10-9 lead in the frame. At halftime the Purple Eagles held the 29-27 lead.
- Five different Purple Eagles had two points in the frame which included the lone two free throws from Aaliyah.
- The Purple Eagles forced six turnovers while Nickelle O’Neil and Ary Hicks notched steals in the second quarter.
- At halftime, Glover had a team high seven points while O’Neil had six points in the opening 20 minutes.
Third Quarter
- Manhattan came out of the locker red hot looking to take control of the game. They outscored Niagara 22-12 in the quarter while turning the ball over only once. Aaliyah was credited with the lone Niagara steal.
- O’Neil had a team high six points in the quarter while Aaliyah had four and Yelle chipped in the final two.
- Of Niagara’s 11 points in the frame, six of them were second chance points as Niagara had five offensive rebounds. In total the Purple Eagle collected nine boards while Manhattan had just six.
Fourth Quarter
- Trailing after three quarters the Purple Eagles had work to do in the fourth quarter and came out firing. They outscored the Jaspers 25-13 in the fourth to secure the win.
- Angel found herself with the ball in her hands as time wound down, she had seven points in the frame. Glover went 2-2 from the field and 2-2 at the line for six points.
- The defense wreaked havoc on the Jaspers as they forced 12 turnovers. Nine of the 12 turnovers were steals while Aaliyah had four of them.
- In the fourth alone there were three lead changes while Niagara held a lead for just 88 seconds.
Niagara Notes
- O’Neil finished with a team high 15 points as she was 7-12 from the field. Glover and Aaliyah both had 13 points while Glover pulled down a team high eight boards.
- Niagara forced 33 turnovers in the game along with 22 steals. Aaliyah had a team high seven steals which is also the most a Purple Eagle has had in game this season.
- The Purple Eagles have force 30+ turnovers in three of the last four games and 25+ in six straight games.
- Niagara pulled down 21 offensive rebounds which is the second most they have had in game this season. They had 26 offensive rebounds against St. Bonaventure.
- The Purple Eagles went 13-10 in MAAC play in 2022.
Up Next
- Niagara opens 2023 on the road against Iona on Jan. 2 at 1 PM.
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