The Canisius College women's basketball team lost 66-60 to Niagara University in the Koessler Athletic Center on Thursday evening. The Golden Griffins fall to 8-10 overall and 2-5 in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference.

Junior Ashley Durham and sophomore Jen Morabito each scored 17 points for the Griffs on the game. Sophomore Jamie Ruttle had 12 points while junior Ashley Wilkes had 10 points in her first career start.

"We didn't defend for large stretches of that first half, letting Niagara do what they wanted to do," Canisius coach Terry Zeh said. "We dug another hole and that takes a lot of energy to overcome.

"We play tentatively defensively and don't come out aggressive enough. This hasn't been a one-game thing, and it's something we need to change or our results aren't going to change."

Two free throws from Durham brought the Griffs within one at 13-12, but Niagara scored the next eight points to build a nine-point lead. Canisius would score the next six points, capped by a 3-pointer from Morabito to cut the deficit to 23-19. Niagara (6-13, 3-4 MAAC) responded with eight of the next 10 points, including a deep 3-pointer from Kayla Stroman, to go up 31-21. The Griffs scored seven of the next nine points, but a fast-break layup from Lauren Gatto gave the Purple Eagles a 36-28 halftime lead.

Canisius came out and scored the opening five points of the second half - a 3-pointer from Morabito and a putback from Wilkes to force a Niagara timeout and cut the lead to 36-33. Niagara then extended its lead back to eight points at 44-36 on a baby hook from Lauren Gatto. The Griffs battled back into the game, with a breakaway layup from Durham cutting the Niagara lead to 46-44 with 11:45 left. After Niagara scored the next four points, Canisius got a three-point play from Ruttle to get within three at 50-47. Niagara would score six straight points to rebuild its lead.

Canisius then used free throws from freshman Kayla Hoohuli and Morabito to cut it to 60-57. The Griffs held Niagara scoreless for three possessions, but also came up empty on their next three possessions, including a 3-pointer from Durham that rimmed out. Stroman would get past the Canisius defense and converted a layup to put Niagara up by five with 16 seconds left. Morabito was fouled on a 3-point attempt and made all three free throws to cut the lead to 62-60.

After Canisius nearly stole the inbounds pass, Ali Morris came down and made both ends of the one-and-one to give Niagara a four-point lead and effectively put the game away.

Stroman led Niagara with 17 points, five assists and four steals while Gatto had 15 points on 7-for-11 shooting. Niagara shot 44.1 percent from the game, including 52.2 percent from inside the arc.

Canisius returns to the road on Sunday, when the Golden Griffins play at Iona College. Game time in New Rochelle is set for 2 p.m.

Notes: Niagara earns two points in the Battle of the Bridge series with the win... Canisius lost to Niagara for the first time in four meetings... The Griffs also saw their five-game home winning streak come to an end...  Durham played all 40 minutes, going the distance in regulation for the first time in her career... Canisius made all 19 of its free throws in the game, setting a program record for most free throws made without a miss, besting the total of 15 from Feb. 16, 1992, against Manhattan... The Purple Eagles outscored Canisius 36-20 in the paint and held a 20-2 advantage in points off turnovers.