LEWISTON — Kendra Faustin walked in the Niagara locker room Wednesday night and said that after months of practicing she still sees a team that can win.
The problem for the Purple Eagles is that hardly anybody else has seen the same thing lately.
Niagara dropped its fourth straight non-conference game Wednesday, losing 67-48 to the Duquesne Dukes. An announced crowd of 359 saw the Purple Eagles (3-10) lose their fifth consecutive game at the Gallagher Center.
The Purple Eagles again shot poorly, hitting just 33.9 percent (20 of 59) of their field goal attempts. They shot 15.4 percent (2 of 13) from 3-point range and were pitiful from the free throw line, making just 40 percent (6 of 15).
The Dukes (8-6) opened the game on a 17-7 run, built their eight-point halftime lead to as large as 21 points in the second half and posted their largest victory margin of the season.
“We didn’t do a whole lot well tonight,” said Faustin, the Purple Eagles’ first-year coach. “I know we’re capable of doing a lot of things that nobody else has any idea (of) because we haven’t done it in games.
“There’s been spurts, but unless we’re going to put it together for 40 minutes, we’re going to have a lot of nights like this.”
Jade Singleton scored a career-high 20 points on 10-of-13 shooting for Duquesne, which outscored Niagara 30-14 in the paint. Singleton also grabbed seven rebounds.
Sarah Wilson scored 15 points to lead Niagara. Erika Harris added 11 points, but turned the ball over five times and did not record an assist. Michelle Manfredi had five assists and no turnovers. Jaclyn Konieczka had a team-high five rebounds in just seven minutes.
The Purple Eagles resume Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play Sunday at St. Peter’s, giving Faustin and her staff a chance to make any necessary adjustments to be more competitive against conference foes than they’ve been so far.
Faustin said it’s an ideal time to make adjustments, since the classes haven’t yet resumed at Niagara. There’s also plenty of things Niagara won’t be changing.
“We need to do the little things that we work on every day,” she said. “Setting good screens, making good passes, making good decisions, reversing the basketball. Controlling the tempo is something we’re definitely going to work on.”
Fans we’ll get to see if any of that work leads to better results on Jan. 10 when Niagara returns to Monteagle Ridge to play Iona.
Contact reporter Jonah Bronstein at 282-2311, ext. 2258.
Niagara U.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: Duquesne women beat up on Niagara
- Niagara U.
-
-
Niagara shuts out Canisius
Paul Zanette had a goal and assist while goaltender Chris Noonan made 29 saves to propel the Niagara University men’s hockey team to a critical 3-0 victory over Canisius at the Buffalo State College Sports Complex.
-
Situation getting worse for Niagara basketball team
Niagara sank into last place in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference with a 51-49 loss at Manhattan, which came into the game on a 15-game losing streak Monday. And that was hardly the most ominous news to come out of the lost weekend, which also included Saturday’s setback at Saint Peter’s.
-
Niagara falls hard in big game
With Calvin Murphy being honored at halftime and ESPNU showing the game nationwide, the Purple Eagles missed more than twice as many shots as they made and lost 82-65 to visiting Metro Atlantic Athletic foe Rider before a crowd of 1,275.
-
A legend holds court at NU
Calvin Murphy adds to his legend in return
-
Calvin Murphy excited to come back to Niagara
Murphy is passionate about showing his loyalty to Niagara because the university has done the same for him over the years.
-
Niagara loses by 45 at Drexel
The Niagara men’s basketball team suffered through its most lopsided loss in over a decade on its worst offensive night in almost a century.
-
Niagara making impression in Atlantic Hockey
As second semester approaches, Purple Eagles have rebounded after down year
-
Purple Eagles encouraged to follow the leader
Having lost seven of eight games for just the second time in his 12 years at Niagara, coach Joe Mihalich is concerned that his roster of mostly freshmen and sophomores is not responding to the leadership being provided by his lone senior.
-
Dobrich pursues his passion coaching the Purple Eagles
Luke Dobrich, 32, is in his eighth season as a men’s basketball assistant coach at Niagara, and his first as the senior member of head coach Joe Mihalich’s staff.
-
Nelson’s basket lifts NU past Bowling Green
Anthony Nelson’s basket with just a second left on the shot clock proved the game’s winning play as the Purple Eagles evened their record at 2-2 with a 65-61 victory over Bowling Green on Friday.
- More Niagara U. Headlines
-
Niagara shuts out Canisius
Obama Scraps Birth Control Mandate
US Airmen's Killer Sentenced to Life in Germany
Navy Names Ship for Gabrielle Giffords
Raw Video: Deadly Blasts in Syria
Romney Slams President Obama at CPAC
Gingrich: Pres. Obama 'waging War on Religion'
5 Killed in Wrong-way Crash on I-10 in La.
Uzbek Man Pleads Guilty in Plot to Kill Obama
Denver's Largest-Ever Drug Bust Nets Dozens
Marines: No Punishment for Nazi-like Flag
Vets Look to Translate Military Skills Into Jobs
Raw Video: School Bus Burst Into Flames
LA School Reopens Amid Sex Abuse Scandal
$25B Settlement Reached Over Foreclosure Abuses
Pentagon: Allow Women Closer to Front Lines
LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
Ga Girl Fights Off Kidnapper at Walmart
