LEWISTON — This was certainly not the ending they wanted — or needed — heading into the postseason.

The Niagara University women’s basketball team started off poorly, played much better in the second half, but fell 63-59 to St. Peters on Senior Day before 346 patrons in the Gallagher Center.

The Purple Eagles — who ended at 9-9 in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play and 12-17 overall — finished the season with three straight losses.

It is now on to the MAAC Tournament for the Purple Eagles, who enter the tourney seeded fifth. They will play fourth-seeded Manhattan in a first-round game at 3:30 p.m. on Friday at the Times Union Center in Albany.

“We have to continue to be aggressive,” Niagara coach Kendra Faustin said after Sunday’s loss. “We were not the aggressor — we were afraid not to lose tonight, and that is very disappointing.”

Niagara looked awful early but rebounded with a much better second half. It trailed 26-20 at halftime but fought its way back and actually took a four-point lead, 58-54, on two Kayla Stroman free throws with just 1:08 left.

But, with 42.6 seconds left, St. Peters’ Alena Ali hit a clutch 3-pointer to pull the Peahens within one, 59-58. They then took the lead for good with 8.9 seconds left when Jynae Judson hit a 3-pointer to make it 61-59.

Judson then added two more free throws with 1.7 seconds left to ice the victory.

But long before that, an atrocious first half sank the Purple Eagles. They shot a miserable 7-of-29 from the field (24.1 percent).

“The story of the game was the first half,” Faustin said. “I thought we played scared and tentative.”

The Purple Eagles, who wound up shooting 37.9 percent (22-of-58) for the game, were led by Stroman’s 17 points. Ali Morris scored 13 and Jaclyn Konieczka finished with 10.

Natasha Morris led St. Peters with a game-high 20-points, while Judson finished with 16.

With just a few days to get her club ready for the postseason, Faustin’s message will be simple.

“Last year we lost a lot of games in a row,” she said. “This year we strung some tough losses together and we battled through that and did some good things in the conference.

“That will be my message to them — we have been through this before.”

NOTES: Before the game, Niagara honored seniors Rachel Folino, Konieczka and Jennifer McNamee. ... Besides the three players, Team Manager and Niagara Falls native Lachele Boone was also honored before the game. ... Niagara’s 12 wins are its most since the 2006-07 season.