WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Niagara stunner sets up clash with Griffs
ALBANY — Bring on the Griffs.
The Niagara women’s basketball team put a miserable regular season behind it and beat No. 7 Rider, 71-67, in a first-round game of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference tournament at the Times Union Center on Thursday to earn another shot at old friend Canisius.
The 10th-seeded Purple Eagles (3-27) will face the Golden Griffins this morning at 9:30 a. m. (710 & 1440 AM) No. 2 Canisius (22-7) handled NU in both regular-season games, including Saturday’s 65-39 beatdown at the Koessler Center.
This was Niagara’s second win in three games as the Purple Eagles snapped a 24-game losing streak on Feb. 22 before losing their regular-season finale at Canisius.
“We played like we are capable of [playing] today,” NU coach Kendra Faustin said. “I am pleased, thrilled and excited.”
Niagara senior Jennifer McNamee, who missed the past eight games because of injury, scored 19 points, hitting 5 of 8 from beyond the arc. Tied at 43-43 with 11:33 on the clock, McNamee canned a three-pointer to give the Purple Eagles the lead for good.
Niagara led, 64-54, with four minutes left after freshman guard Ali Morris scored five straight points. Morris finished with 19 points, while Liz Flooks added 14 and Kristina Walton grabbed 10 rebounds.
Niagara shot 69.2 percent (9 of 13) from beyond the arc and 47.4 percent overall (27 for 57), while holding the seventh-seeded Broncs (10-20) to 21- of-71 shooting (29.6 percent).
Shaunice Parker led seventh-seeded Rider (10-20) with 20 points.
The Broncs put a scare into Niagara, which led by 10 with 3:30 left, with an 8-0 run in 56 seconds to pull within, 64-62. Rider had a chance to tie with eight seconds left, but Amanda Sepulveda’s three-point try rimmed out. NU grabbed the rebound, and Erika Harris hit a free throw for the final margin.
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