Niagara Purple Eagles women's basketball

Last updated
Niagara Purple Eagles
Basketball current event.svg 2024–25 Niagara Purple Eagles women's basketball team
Initials niagara univ.svg
University Niagara University
Head coachJada Pierce (10th season)
Conference MAAC
Location Lewiston, New York
Arena Gallagher Center
(capacity: 2,400)
Nickname Purple Eagles
ColorsPurple and white [1]
   
Uniforms
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Home
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Away


AIAW tournament Final Four
Division II: 1979
AIAW tournament Elite Eight
Division II: 1979
AIAW tournament appearances
Division II: 1979, 1980
WNIT appearances
2023

The Niagara Purple Eagles women's basketball team is the college basketball team that represent Niagara University in Lewiston, New York, United States. The school's team currently competes in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC). They are one of over fifty teams to have never reached the NCAA Division I tournament.

Contents

History

Niagara began play in 1974. They joined the MAAC in 1989. They have never made the NCAA tournament. Their brief achievements came in regional AIAWs, such as winning the New York AIAW championship in 1978 and 1980 and the Eastern AIAW in 1979, with a third-place finish in the AIAW Small College tournament. They made it to the ECAC North title game in 1986, losing to St. Anselm's 77–65 and losing to Saint Peter's 66–38 in the 1997 MAAC title game. They have reached the second round of the MAAC tournament numerous times but have never won it. As of the end of the 2015–16 season, the Purple Eagles have an all-time record of 456–575. In 2023 Niagara made history by reaching the WNIT tournament for the first time in program history. [2] The Purple Eagles ultimately fell to Green Bay in their first appearance in the tournament, [2] ending one of the best seasons in the history of Niagara women's basketball. [3]


Postseason

AIAW College Division/Division II

The Purple Eagles made two appearances in the AIAW national Division II basketball tournament, with a combined record of 3–2.

YearRoundOpponentResult
1979 First round
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
Third-place game
San Francisco
Charleston (WV)
Dayton
Tuskegee
W, 56–52
W, 78–73
L, 59–76
W, 71–55
1980 First round Saint Peter's L, 55–75


WNIT results

The Purple Eagles have appeared in one Women's National Invitation Tournament.

YearRoundOpponentResult
2023 First round Green Bay L, 52–84

Roster

2023–24 Niagara Purple Eagles women's basketball team
PlayersCoaches
Pos.#NameHeightYearPrevious schoolHometown
G 0Chardonnay Hartley5 ft 3 in(1.6 m)So Longwood Harlem, New York
G 1Shelby Fiddler5 ft 9 in(1.75 m)So Patrick Henry High School Roanoke, Virginia
G 3Lexie Roe5 ft 7 in(1.7 m)Jr Fayetteville–Manlius High School Manlius, New York
G 4Ary Hicks5 ft 5 in(1.65 m)So Charlotte High School Punta Gorda, Florida
G 5Aaliyah Parker5 ft 9 in(1.75 m)Jr Cardinal O'Hara High School Cheektowaga, New York
F 10Amelia Strong6 ft 2 in(1.88 m)So Cardinal O'Hara High School Niagara Falls, New York
G 11Angel Parker5 ft 5 in(1.65 m)GS Cardinal O'Hara High School Cheektowaga, New York
G 13Destiny Strother5 ft 9 in(1.75 m)GS Pittsburgh Flint, Michigan
G/F 14Alyssa Rossignol5 ft 11 in(1.8 m)Fr Enfield High School Enfield, Connecticut
F 15Kylie Buckley6 ft 1 in(1.85 m)FrLivonia High School Livonia, New York
G 20Marlie Dickerson5 ft 10 in(1.78 m)So Central Dauphin High School Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
G 21Lore Porter5 ft 9 in(1.75 m)Sr New Hope Academy Woodbridge, Virginia
F 23Jade Rutledge5 ft 10 in(1.78 m)So Cardinal O'Hara High School Buffalo, New York
F 25Saige Glover6 ft 0 in(1.83 m)Sr Northland High School Columbus, Ohio
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • (W) Walk-on

Roster
Last update: February 19, 2024

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References

  1. "Niagara University Athletic Department Quick Facts". August 2, 2011. Retrieved April 15, 2016.
  2. 1 2 "Purple Eagles End Historic Season In Opening Round Of WNIT". Niagara University Athletics. 2023-03-16. Retrieved 2024-10-16.
  3. "Niagara University Purple Eagle Athletics - 1617WBBRecordBook.pdf" (PDF). Purpleeagles.com. Retrieved October 16, 2024.