SANBORN, N.Y. (Interstat) — Colette Mulderig scored 24 points and grabbed eight rebounds to lead the Manhattan Lady Jaspers to a 74-53 victory over the winless Niagara Purple Eagles in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference women’s basketball game Saturday at Gallagher Center.

Manhattan, which improved to 3-12 overall, used a dominant third-quarter surge to pull away for its second consecutive conference win. Niagara remained winless at 0-15.

The game was a defensive struggle early, with both teams plagued by turnovers. Manhattan led 15-8 after a first quarter defined more by miscues than scoring. The Lady Jaspers extended their lead to 29-18 by halftime, but the decisive stretch came immediately after the break.

Manhattan opened the third quarter with a 14-3 run, turning a manageable 11-point lead into a commanding 43-21 advantage. The Lady Jaspers outscored Niagara 26-19 in the period, with Mulderig, a 6-foot-4 sophomore from Scranton, Pennsylvania, scoring 10 of her points during the quarter. Her interior presence on both ends proved too much for the Purple Eagles to handle, as she also recorded two blocks.

Elisa Solé Sanchez supported Mulderig with 14 points and five assists for Manhattan. Hana Mühl added nine points and five assists, while Brianna Davis contributed 11 points.

Niagara was led by Talia Dial’s 13 points and Jade Rutledge’s 11 points and three blocks. The Purple Eagles shot just 30.5% from the field and 20% from 3-point range. They committed 18 turnovers, which Manhattan converted into 25 points.

Despite the final margin, the game was sloppy throughout. The teams combined for 39 turnovers and 25 steals. Manhattan’s offense, while not efficient, was effective enough, scoring 40 points in the paint and capitalizing on its opportunities at the free-throw line, making 16 of 19 attempts.

The Lady Jaspers’ defense set the tone, holding Niagara to an offensive rating of 68.3 points per 100 possessions. The Purple Eagles’ scoring output was consistent with their season-long struggles; they have now lost 15 games by an average of 33 points.

For Manhattan, the win builds modest momentum following a 69-43 road victory at Canisius on Thursday. The Lady Jaspers will look to continue their improvement when they host Mount Saint Mary’s on Wednesday.

Niagara, still searching for its first win, will host local rival Canisius on Wednesday. The Purple Eagles have not won a game since Feb. 25, 2025.

Attendance at the Gallagher Center was 251.