NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. (Interstat) — In a game defined more by defensive pressure and offensive inefficiency than fluid scoring, the Merrimack Warriors methodically dispatched the visiting Niagara Purple Eagles 60-44 in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference women’s basketball game Saturday at Volpe Athletic Center.

The contest, played before an announced crowd of 287, saw Merrimack improve to 18-11 on the season while Niagara’s struggles deepened, falling to 1-28.

The most important part of the game was not a single dramatic run, but rather Merrimack’s persistent defensive control and Niagara’s profound inability to generate consistent offense. The Warriors, leveraging their significant height advantage and active hands, built a lead in the first quarter and never relinquished it, effectively suffocating Niagara’s attempts to rally.

Niagara’s offensive woes were stark. The Purple Eagles shot just 25.4% from the field, making 16 of 63 attempts. They were only marginally better from beyond the arc, hitting 5 of 22 three-pointers. This inefficiency was compounded by 23 turnovers, many of which were converted into transition opportunities for the Warriors. Despite forcing an astonishing 33 Merrimack turnovers and recording 19 steals, Niagara could not capitalize sufficiently on the extra possessions, posting an offensive rating of just 54.8 points per 100 possessions.

Merrimack, while not sharp offensively either, was comparatively efficient. The Warriors shot 45.6% from the floor and matched Niagara’s five three-pointers on fewer attempts. They dominated the interior, outscoring Niagara in the paint and outrebounding them 14-11 on the offensive glass. Merrimack’s offensive rating of 75.6, though far from elite, was more than enough against Niagara’s stagnant attack.

The Warriors established control early. After Niagara’s Kenedie Haruna opened the scoring with a three-pointer, Merrimack responded with a 9-0 run, fueled by post play from Oralye Kiefer and guard Se’Lah Reddick. The Warriors led 17-12 after one quarter and extended the margin to 30-24 by halftime. Niagara stayed within reach primarily through defensive pressure, but could not string together successful offensive sequences.

Any hope of a Niagara comeback was extinguished in the third quarter. Merrimack opened the period with a 5-0 spurt, keyed by a three-pointer from Kiefer, to push the lead to 11. The Warriors maintained that double-digit cushion throughout the quarter, taking a 48-34 lead into the final frame. Niagara never threatened in the fourth, as both teams traded missed shots and turnovers in a disjointed finish.

Merrimack was led by Madison Roman, who scored a game-high 22 points on efficient 10-of-14 shooting from inside the arc, adding seven rebounds. Oralye Kiefer, a 6-foot-3 center from Wayland, Massachusetts, provided a formidable interior presence with 10 points, three blocks and three steals. Molly Manion contributed 14 points off the bench, and Se’Lah Reddick directed the offense with seven assists despite a tough shooting night.

For Niagara, Kenedie Haruna of Montreal led the way with 13 points, but needed 17 shots to get there. Chasity Wilson added 11 points and five assists, while Tyasia Freeman contributed six points, two blocks and a team-high four steals in a losing effort.

The game’s statistical profile underscored its ragged nature. The teams combined for 56 turnovers and shot 21-of-46 from the free-throw line. Merrimack’s victory, predicted by statistical models with a 97.2% probability, was secured not with flash but with a steady, defensively focused effort that consistently exploited Niagara’s season-long offensive limitations.