Niagara Purple Eagles women's basketball

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Niagara Purple Eagles
2023–24 Niagara Purple Eagles women's basketball team
UniversityNiagara University
Head coachJada Pierce (9th season)
ConferenceMAAC
LocationLewiston, New York
ArenaGallagher Center
(Capacity: 2,400)
NicknamePurple Eagles
ColorsPurple and white[1]
   
Uniforms
Home jersey
Team colours
Home
Away jersey
Team colours
Away


AIAW tournament Final Four
Division II: 1979
AIAW tournament Elite Eight
Division II: 1979
AIAW tournament appearances
Division II: 1979, 1980
WNIT Tournament 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. They are one of over fifty teams to have never reached the NCAA Division I tournament.

History[edit]

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. Anslem's 77–65 and lost 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. The Purple Eagles would ultimately fall to Green Bay in their first appearance in the tournament ending one of the best seasons in the history of Niagara women's basketball. [2]


Postseason[edit]

AIAW College Division/Division II[edit]

The Purple Eagles made two appearances in the AIAW National Division II Basketball Tournament, with a combined record of 3–2.

Year Round Opponent Result
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[edit]

The Purple Eagles have appeared in 1 Women's National Invitation Tournament.

Year Round Opponent Result
2023 First Round Green Bay L, 52-84

Roster[edit]

2023–24 Niagara Purple Eagles women's basketball team
Players Coaches
Pos. # Name Height Year Previous school Hometown
G 0 Chardonnay Hartley 5 ft 3 in (1.6 m) So Longwood Harlem, New York
G 1 Shelby Fiddler 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) So Patrick Henry High School Roanoke, Virginia
G 3 Lexie Roe 5 ft 7 in (1.7 m) Jr Fayetteville–Manlius High School Manlius, New York
G 4 Ary Hicks 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m) So Charlotte High School Punta Gorda, Florida
G 5 Aaliyah Parker 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) Jr Cardinal O'Hara High School Cheektowaga, New York
F 10 Amelia Strong 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) So Cardinal O'Hara High School Niagara Falls, New York
G 11 Angel Parker 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m) GS Cardinal O'Hara High School Cheektowaga, New York
G 13 Destiny Strother 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) GS Pittsburgh Flint, Michigan
G/F 14 Alyssa Rossignol 5 ft 11 in (1.8 m) Fr Enfield High School Enfield, Connecticut
F 15 Kylie Buckley 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) Fr Livonia High School Livonia, New York
G 20 Marlie Dickerson 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) So Central Dauphin High School Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
G 21 Lore Porter 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) Sr New Hope Academy Woodbridge, Virginia
F 23 Jade Rutledge 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) So Cardinal O'Hara High School Buffalo, New York
F 25 Saige Glover 6 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

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Niagara University Athletic Department Quick Facts". August 2, 2011. Retrieved April 15, 2016.
  2. ^ "Niagara University Purple Eagle Athletics - 1617WBBRecordBook.pdf" (PDF). Purpleeagles.com. Retrieved 2017-03-14.

External links[edit]