11/18/23

SANBORN, NY -- A torrid first quarter pace proved unsustainable, as Lackawanna College women's basketball blew an early ten-point lead and fell on the road at the Niagara County CC Thunder Wolves, 77-65, in the opening game of the Niagara County CC Tip-Off Classic.
 
The Falcons (1-4) held a 21-11 lead late in the first, a quarter where they shot 53% from the field and held a 15-7 rebounding advantage. They still lead at the 5:19 mark of the second quarter, when E'Ternity Aiken (First Year; Wilkes-Barre, PA) hit a fast-break lay-up to put Lackawanna up six at 29-23. That would be the last basket the Falcons scored all half, as Niagara (5-0) closed on a 17-2 run to take a 40-31 lead into the break. Lackawanna shot just 25% in the second quarter, while the Thunder Wolves shot 59% and outscored the Falcons 27-10. That halftime lead ballooned as high as 22, and Lackawanna never truly got within striking range, getting as close as eight late in the third quarter.
 
Lackawanna shot 42% for the game, but had 31 turnovers, 21 of which came on steals, and was outscored 25-10 in points off turnovers. The Falcons also only had 12 assists on the day. Desiree White (First Year; Carlisle, PA) led two Falcons in double-figures, scoring a team-high 19 points and pulling down five boards. Aiken added 16 points and nine rebounds, while Nariyah Turner (Sophomore; Philadelphia, PA) had eight points and six assists, and Saraiah Franklin (First Year; Philadelphia, PA) added eight points and a team-high 12 rebounds. Niagara's Alessandra Faith led all scorers with 33 points, while Makayla Thomas narrowly missed a triple-double, with eleven points, eight steals, and six rebounds.
 
The Falcons are back to work tomorrow, Sunday, November 19^th, when they take on the Jamestown CC Jayhawks at Niagara County CC. Tipoff is set for a 3:00pm ET start.