NIAGARA UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
HAMDEN, Conn. – Despite putting up a strong fight, the Niagara women’s basketball team fell to the reigning MAAC champions Quinnipiac, 77-61, on Thursday.
Game Summary
Final Score: Quinnipiac 77, Niagara 61
Leading Scorers: Victoria Rampado (20 points), Jai Moore (15 points)
Records: Quinnipiac (9-5, 3-0 MAAC), Niagara (4-10, 1-2 MAAC)
Location: TD Bank Sports Center – Hamden, Connecticut
Game Recap
- Quinnipiac jumped out to an early 7-0 lead, but the Purple Eagles quickly caught up. Moore led NU with six points in the first quarter and Niagara trailed the Bobcats narrowly, 18-14, going into the second quarter.
- Rampado hit a three to open scoring in the second quarter, putting NU down by only one point, 18-17, with over nine minutes to play. Moore followed up with a layup to give the Purple Eagles their first lead of the game, 19-18. The Bobcats came back to take the lead, but Niagara quickly cut it. Six points from Rampado and Moore’s first career 3-pointer put the Purple Eagles down by only four points, 32-28, with a little under four minutes left in the quarter. With a just under two minutes remaining in the second, Rampado scored to put NU back in the lead, 36-35, and the Purple Eagles led the Bobcats, 38-37, at the end of the second.
- Quinnipiac went on a 7-0 run to open the third quarter but, once again, the Purple Eagles were undaunted. A 3-pointer from Claire Wanzer put NU down by only two points, 49-47, with 3:45 remaining and two free throws from Maggie McIntyre tied things up, 49-49, with a little over three minutes left in the quarter. The Bobcats, however, regained their lead and were ahead, 60-52, at the end of the third quarter.
- The Bobcats went on another 7-0 run to open the fourth quarter could not be caught by the Purple Eagles. Quinnipiac held NU to nine points in the fourth quarter and came away with the 77-61 victory to remain undefeated against Niagara.
Inside the Numbers
- Rampado led the Purple Eagles with 20 points and 10 rebounds to record her conference-leading seventh double-double of the season. Rampado has scored in double figures in all 14 games this season and has scored 20 or more points in six games.
- Moore added a career-high 15 points for the Purple Eagles, as well as making her first career 3-pointer and recording her first career block.
- Kaylee Stroemple had 10 points for Niagara and Jamie Sherburne led the team with four assists. Sherburne also had a career-high two blocks.
Up Next
- The Purple Eagles close out their three-game road trip at Siena on Sunday, Jan. 7 at 1:00 p.m. The game will be played in the Times Union Center, the site of the 2018 MAAC Championships.
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