NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, NY– Siena Women’s Basketball opened up its final weekend of regular season play by engaging in an offensive battle at conference foe Niagara Thursday evening. The Saints (17-12, 11-8) dropped an 86-62 decision to the Purple Eagles (16-11, 15-4) at the Gallagher Center in Nagara University, New York to kick off the first leg of a two-game swing in the Buffalo area.

After knocking off the Purple Eagles back on Feb. 11 at the UHY Center to take the season opener, the Green and Gold held an early 14-6 advantage with 4:34 remaining in the opening quarter before the home team fired off a 12-2 run to regain the lead in the early moments of the second quarter.

Niagara held 24-16 and 21-10 advantages in the second and third quarters, respectively, to pull ahead for good after taking a nine-point lead to the locker room. The Purple Eagles featured scoring from all 13 active players, and put four players in double figures despite the MAAC’s top-two leading scorers – sisters Aaliyah and Angel Parker – staying under ten points apiece.

The Saints shot 39 percent from the field while Niagara made nearly 45 percent of its shots and held a decisive 41-24 rebounding edge.

Sophomore Anajah Brown turned in her team-leading sixth double-double of the year with 15 points and 13 rebounds, while freshman London Gamble (11 points) and junior Ahniysha Jackson (10 points) also went in double figures.

Freshmen Jade Rutledge and Ary Hicks led the Purple Eagle scoring barrage with 13 and 12 points, respectively, while juniors Brooklyn Jones (11) and Saige Glover (10) also contributed double-digit scoring.

With the Saints already locked into the 4/5 Quarterfinal against Fairfield at next week’s MAAC Championships in Atlantic City, New Jersey, Siena’s regular season will conclude on Saturday, March 4 at Canisius in Downtown Buffalo at 1 PM.

Courtesy Siena