LEWISTON, N.Y. - Shooting 61.4 percent from the floor, including 75 percent from three-point range, the Saint Joseph's women's basketball team opened the 2017-18 season with a 93-69 victory at Niagara on Sunday at the Gallagher Center.

Junior Alyssa Monaghan led four Hawks in double figures with a career-best 23 points and matched a program record for three-point proficiency as she finished 7-of-7 from behind the arc and 8-8 overall from the field.

Behind 11 points from Monaghan, SJU took control from the tip as it ran out to a 14-6 lead.

Down 19-12 after the first quarter, Niagara (0-2) used a 7-3 run to start the second period and rally to within three, 22-19.

That would be as close as the Purple Eagles would get on the day though as the Hawks answered with a 14-0 run to open a 36-19 lead on a layup by Amanda Fioravanti.

Taking a 49-32 advantage into the second half, Saint Joseph's went on to outscore Niagara 44-37 in the second half to set a new program record for points in a season opener with 93.

For the game, the Hawks went 35-of-57 from the field, 15-of-20 from behind the arc and finished with a 38-23 edge in rebounding.

Going 7-of-8 from the floor, and 5-of-6 from three-point range, junior Kristalyn Baisden finished with 19 points, while classmate Sarah Veilleux scored 14 points on 6-of-7 shooting. Senior Adashia Franklyn added a game-high 15 rebounds to go with 14 points.

At the other end, Kaylee Stroemple led Niagara with 17 points as the Purple Eagles were held to 35.2 percent shooting (19-of-54).

The Hawks are back in action Wednesday at Bucknell at 6 p.m.

Game Notes: Fioravanti finished with eight points, two blocks and four assists...Monaghan and Veilleux each handed out four assists...Tri-captain Avery Marz finished with three points and two rebounds in her first game in a SJU uniform...Freshman Mary Sheehan added four points and four rebounds in her collegiate debut...Classmate Lula Roig handed out four assists and had two rebounds and scored a point in her debut...Redshirt sophomore Whisper Fisher had two points, two rebounds, two assists and a blocked shot in her first game as a Hawk...Senior Candace Belvedere added two points and an assists...Classmate Chelsea Woods had three points...Monaghan matched Mégan Compain's mark of 7-of-7 from three-point range set versus Rhode Island on January 25, 1997.

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