NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. (January 4, 2025) – With all players contributing, Mount St. Mary's women's basketball put together a commanding 89-68 victory over the Niagara Purple Eagles Saturday at the Gallagher Center.
Jo Raflo was the top scorer, registering 25 points while going 10-for-16 shooting.
Giana Hoddinott added a career high with 12 points while tying a career best for assists with six.
Madison Ruff added double figures with 10.
As a unit, the Mount tallied 50 rebounds in the game, including 18 on the offensive end. Four players tied for the team lead with nine each – Raflo, Ruff,
Anna LeMaster and
Jaedyn Jamison. The rebound total serves as a career high for Ruff. The last time a Mount team registered 50 boards or more was against Valley Forge in 2021. Against Division I teams, their last 50-plus effort was versus Wagner on February 8, 2016.
The victory improves the Mountaineers' record to 3-9 this season, and 1-2 in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference.
After falling behind as much as 12 at the 18-6 mark, Mount St. Mary's worked their way back into the game. Trailing by two entering the second quarter, they continued their march until Ruff supplied them with a 28-26 lead on a layup. The Mount would go up as many as six off a
Rosa Revueltas Pareja layup before settling for a 44-41 halftime advantage.
In the third period, the Mountaineers made a steady increase in the lead while holding the Purple Eagles to 3-for-16 from the floor. A layup by
Tessa Engelman in the closing seconds extended the lead to 61-51 going into the final frame.
Mount closed the game down the stretch with a 28-point quarter, including 18 in the final few minutes. Raflo earned 13 of her 25 in the fourth, with Hoddinott going 4-for-4 at the charity stripe to help seal the game.
Back at Knott Arena this Thursday (Jan. 9), the Mountaineers take on Manhattan in a 7 p.m. tip.
