Manhattan University Athletics

RIVERDALE, N.Y. – Manhattan saw its four-game winning streak snapped by Niagara, 85-73, on Saturday afternoon inside Draddy Gymnasium on Senior Day.

The loss is the first at home for Manhattan (13-9, 8-5 MAAC) this season.

Before the game, Courtney Warley and Sini Mäkelä were honored as part of the Senior Day festivities. Warley received two basketball honoring her reaching 1,000 career points and rebounds too. 

Niagara (8-12, 5-7) shot 50-percent from the field and 47-percent from 3-point range to overcome only shooting 47-percent from the free-throw line. Manhattan hit 50-percent from the floor but only 22-percent from behind the arc and 66-percent from the free-throw line.

The Jaspers scored the first five points before the Purple Eagles answered with a 17-2 run over the next 4:51 of the first quarter to take a 17-7 lead. After two Dee Dee Davis free throws in the second quarter, the Jaspers would get as close as three, 26-23. It was as close as the Jaspers would get for the remainder of the game. 

The Purple Eagles' full-court pressure culminated in 29 Jasper turnovers and 31 points off those miscues for the visitors. The Jaspers did force 19 turnovers themselves and scored 20 points off them.

Manhattan tried to make one last run in the fourth quarter. The Jaspers cut the deficit to 10 thanks to a 6-0 run with 1:18 to play. On the ensuing possession, Niagara broke the Manhattan full-court pressure, and Maddy Yelle converted a layup through contact and hit the free throw to restore the double-digit lead for the Purple Eagles.

Davis finished with 16 points, six assists, and five rebounds. Courtney Warley finished with another double-double, her 10th this season, with 13 points and 13 rebounds. Emily LaPointe was the third Jasper in double figures with 14 points and five assists.

Angel Parker led four Purple Eagles in double figures with a game-high 25 points and seven assists.

Up next for the Jaspers is a trip down to Rider on Thursday. Tip is set for 7 p.m. in Lawrenceville, N.J.