Niagara presses forward in WNIT
LEWISTON, N.Y. (WIVB) — A season that began with Niagara University hoisting its first women’s basketball banner at the Gallagher Center now boasts the program’s maiden postseason victory in Division I.
The Purple Eagles clawed their way to a 91-86 win against LeMoyne on Friday night in front of a crowd of more than 809 on Monteagle Ridge, advancing past the first round of the WNIT in their second consecutive appearance in the tournament.
“The atmosphere was tremendous,” Niagara coach Jada Pierce said on her birthday. “Our fans really showed up and showed out tonight.
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference finalist Niagara (21-13), which lost at Green Bay in its WNIT debut last March, will play at Vermont (22-11) on Monday night in the second round of 32 teams.
Angel Parker, the former Cardinal O’Hara star who set a team record playing in her 125th career game, led the Purple Eagles with 23 points and five assists against Division I upstart LeMoyne. Her sister Aaliyah Parker had 19 points and five rebounds. Niagara Falls native Amelia Strong double-doubled with 17 points and 10 rebounds, Destiny Strother also scored 17, and Sage Glover contributed eight points and 10 rebounds off the bench.
Banner night for Niagara women
“I’m very proud of our group that we had the will to win,” Pierce said. “No matter what. We had a lot of adversity tonight. The ups and downs of what a college basketball game is. For the fans this was a great game to watch. For somebody coaching this game, it was a little difficult at times.”
Niagara’s full-court pressure defense forced 26 turnovers, just above its average that led the country again this year, and scored 29 points from the takeaways. Stealing the first inbounds pass after scoring off the tip, the Purple Eagles opened the game with a 12-point run.
But LeMoyne, in its first season since elevating from D-II, came back to take the lead early in the second quarter, and was ahead 54-53 going into the fourth.
“They didn’t give up,” Angel Parker said. “When we got that lead, they took that punch, and they were ready to give it back.”
The Purple Eagles made 19 of 21 free throws in 33-point fourth quarter flourish to close out the win. The Parkers finished the night 18 for 20 from the foul line. Niagara’s 91 points were a season-high.
“I’m just so proud of the history we made tonight,” Pierce said. “A lot of it has to do with Angel being here for five years, wanting to come back and do something special, to take this program to new heights. And Aaliyah following her lead.
“I was overwhelmed after the game, just knowing all the players that have come here before that wanted the same thing that is happening now,” the ninth-year Niagara coach concluded. “This was for all of the alumni. Not just us and how we got here today. They are a big part of the shoulders our young women stand on.”
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Jonah Bronstein joined the WIVB squad in 2022 as a digital sports reporter. The Buffalonian has covered the Bills, Sabres, Bandits, Bisons, colleges, high schools and other notable sporting events in Western New York since 2005, for publications including The Associated Press, The Buffalo News, and Niagara Gazette. Read more of his work here.
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