IncredibleNiagara Proves to be a Force to be Reckoned with.In the Cayman Islands’ George TownThe Cayman Island Classic got underway on Friday afternoon with the Niagara women’s basketball team taking on LSU, the defending national champion and seventh-ranked team in the nation. The Purple Eagles lost 99-65 despite outscoring LSU 26-18 in the fourth quarter.
Initial Quarter
The Tigers outscored the Purple Eagles 28 points to 14 in the opening quarter, more than doubling their lead. Niagara had three steals and forced the Tigers into six turnovers in the first quarter. Chardonnay Hartley, Lore Porter, and Ary Hicks all scored a steal. In the opening quarter. Destiny Strother scored a team-high five points thanks to two three-pointers and two free throws. In the quarter Hartley Hicks, and Alyssa Rossignol each had two points, and Porter also made a three. In the first quarter, Hartley had two assists compared to one apiece for Saige Glover and Porter. Niagara grabbed six offensive rebounds in the first quarter, but the rebounding count was tied at ten.
Quarter Two
In the second quarter, LSU outscored Niagara 32–13 while shooting 70.6% from the field. Niagara had three steals and caused five turnovers in the period. Porter had the other theft, while Amelia Strong had two. Hartley went 6–6 at the free throw line in the quarter and scored a team-high eight points. Rossignol scored one point, while Strong and Lexie Roe each scored two. In the second quarter, Niagara was 9–10 from the free throw line.
Halfway through
After twenty minutes, Porter and Rossignol each had three points, Strother had five, and Hartley had ten. Strong, Roe, and Hicks each had two points. Niagara had six steals and forced 11 LSU mistakes in the first half. In the first half, Niagara had nine offensive rebounds compared to LSU’s meagre four.
Quarter Three
In the third quarter, Niagara attempted to cut into the advantage, but LSU outscored the Purple Eagles 21–12 in that period. During the quarter, Strother scored six points with two three-pointers. Glover, Hicks, and Kylie Buckley each scored two points. Niagara grabbed 11 rebounds, nine of which came from the defensive end.
Quarter Four
In the fourth quarter, Niagara outscored the Tigers, scoring 26 points while holding LSU to just 18 points. Porter scored six points, while Hartley recorded a quarter-high eight. While Strong, Glover, Hicks, and Rossignol each had two points and Roe made one free throw, Marlie Dickerson led the team with three points. Dickerson scored a team-high three boards in the quarter as the Purple Eagles outrebounded LSU 11–9. Niagara had just two steals in the fourth quarter but forced seven turnovers. Niagara drained 14 points in the paint and added 8 points off turnovers.
Notes from Niagara
· Niagara had not played an SEC team since 1991, and this was their first encounter with LSU.
· In an LSU victory this season, Niagara is just the second club to keep LSU under 100 points.
In addition to her team-high 18 points, Hartley committed a game-high nine fouls. She is scoring 14.2 points per game on average and has scored 15 points or more in three games so far this season.
· Strother scored 11 points, nine of which were from three-pointers.
· Niagara outrebounds the Tigers 38–39 in the paint. This season, Niagara is the first team to outrebound LSU and collect a season-low 38 rebounds.
· The Purple Eagles had eight thefts and forced 21 turnovers. This season, LSU has committed the most turnovers with 21.
In the game, 10 out of 11 Purple Eagles scored, with each of the 10 players scoring multiple points.
· Against LSU, Niagara made a season-high 24 shots out of three attempts.
· Niagara’s bench scored more points than LSU’s 19–18.
