Niagara Wins Tough Battle Against Loyola to Advance To Semifinals
Niagara Media Relations
2012 MAAC Women's Basketball Championship Bracket
Springfield, Mass. - he fifth-seeded Niagara women's basketball team used a balanced team
effort to defeat No. 4 seed Loyola, 77-63, in the 2012 MAAC Tournament
Quarterfinals on Friday at the MassMutual Center.
"I thought we did a nice job," head coach Kendra Faustin
said. "Loyola came out really aggressive, in particularly in the
second half and I thought we attacked their pressure a lot better. I'm
pleased with our effort and down the stretch making free throws."
Niagara (13-18) had five players in double figures, led by All-MAAC Second Team member Kayla Stroman's
14 points. Stroman also had game-highs with seven steals and six
assists. The Purple Eagles shot 43 percent from the field and went
27-for-33 at the free-throw line. NU, which ranks 14th in nation in
3-point percentage (36.1), shot 50 percent (6-for-12) from behind the
3-point line.
On defense, the Purple Eagles scored 25 points off of 18 turnovers and
had 11 steals to help them to their first-ever tournament win over
Loyola (13-17) in three attempts.
Niagara set the tone early in the game. Bookend baskets by Lauren Gatto were
a part of Niagara's 12-4 run to open the game. After Loyola responded
with a 10-0 run to tie the game at 14-14, the Purple Eagles answered
with an 8-0 run to take a 22-14 lead. The Greyhounds cut the Purple
Eagles' lead 29-26 when Stroman connected on her second 3-pointer of the
game with 4:17 left in the half to swing momentum back to Niagara. The
Purple Eagles went into halftime leading 35-30.
Niagara opened the second half by extending its lead to 38-30 while
holding Loyola scoreless for three minutes. The Greyhounds, however,
would not go away quietly as they chipped away at NU's lead. Niagara,
which never trailed, responded to each run.
Leading 47-46, Niagara went on a 13-3 run which was capped by a 3-pointer from All-MAAC Rookie Team member Meghan McGuinnes with
6:34 left. Loyola trimmed the lead to four points with 2:33 left, but
Niagara ended the game on a 10-3 run going 10-for-12 at the line.
McQuade finished with 12 points and a team-high seven rebounds. Gatto (12), Chanel Johnson (11) and Shy Britton (10) joined Stroman and McGuinness in double figures.
Niagara's 14-point win is its largest tournament win since beating
Rider 69-46 in the 2005 MAAC Quarterfinals and its 77 points are the
most in the MAAC Tournament since 1990.