LEWISTON, N.Y. — A win for the Niagara women's basketball team in Friday's opening round of the Women's National Invitation Tournament carried more significance than just extending the Purple Eagles' season.
Niagara defeated Le Moyne 91-86 at the Gallagher Center to advance to the WNIT's second round. The win marks the Purple Eagles' first postseason victory as a Division I program, and it comes on Niagara's first home postseason game as a D-I program as well.
The Purple Eagles (21-13) saw four players each score at least 17 points, paced by a game-high 23 points from senior guard Angel Parker. Sophomore forward Amelia Strong put together a double-double performance, posting 17 points to go with 10 rebounds.
A tight game througout, Niagara entered the fourth quarter trailing by one. A 12-2 run in the middle of the frame capped by a Destiny Strother 3-pointer with 1 minute, 46 seconds to go helped give the Purple Eagles an eight-point lead, an advantage Niagara was able to hang on to down the stretch.
Niagara now advances to take on Vermont on Monday.
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