No.Name Class Pos. Ht Hometown Previous School 0 Chardonnay Hartley So. G 5-3 Harlem, N.Y. Longwood (Big South) 1 Shelby Fiddler So. G 5-9 Roanoke, Va. Patrick Henry High School 3 Lexie Roe Jr. G 5-7 Manlius, N.Y. Fayetteville-Manlius High School 4 Ary Hicks So. G 5-5 Punta Gorda, FL Charlotte High School 5 Aaliyah Parker Jr. G 5-9 Cheektowaga, N.Y. Cardinal O’Hara High School 10Amelia Strong So. F 6-2 Niagara Falls, N.Y. Cardinal O’Hara High School 11 Angel Parker Gr. G 5-5 Cheektowaga, N.Y. Cardinal O’Hara High School 13 Destiny Strother Gr. G 5-9 Flint, MI Pittsburgh (ACC) 14Alyssa Rossignol Fr. F/G 5-11 Enfield, CT Enfield High School 15 Kylie Buckley Fr. F 6-1 Livonia, N.Y. Livonia High School 20Marlie Dickerson So. G 5-10 Harrisburg, Pa. Central Dauphin High School 21 Lore Porter Sr. G 5-9 Woodbridge, Va. New Hope Academy 23Jade Rutledge So. F 5-10 Buffalo, N.Y. Cardinal O’Hara High School 25Saige Glover Sr. F 6-0 Columbus, OH Northland High School Coaching Staff Head Coach: Jada Pierce (West Chester ’97) (9th Season) Associate Head Coach: Brianna Chambers (Cal State – Bakersfield ’02) (6th Season) Associate Head Coach: Lester Harbin (Lees-McRae ’06) (6th Season) Assistant Coach: Kayla Decriscio (Pitt – Johnstown) (4th Season) Director of Basketball Operations: Skylar Nuffer (Niagara ‘21) (1st Season) Support Staff: Athletic Trainer: Tory Trzyna (Canisius ’16) (3rd Season) Sports Information Director: Dan Richeal (Niagara ’20) (2nd Season) 2023-24 Niagara Women’s Basketball Roster Pronunciation Guide: #21 Lore Porter (Lorie)
Head Coach JADA PIERCE Jada Pierce was introduced as the head coach of the Niagara Women’s Basketball program in the spring of 2015 and will enter her ninth season at the helm in 2023-24. Pierce has over 25 years of collegiate coaching experience. 2022-23 was a historic season for Niagara as the Purple Eagles finished 18-13 overall and set a new program record with 16 MAAC wins. Niagara also appeared in the first postseason tournament in program history as they earned a bid to the WNIT. Niagara notched just its second top two finish in the MAAC and the first since 1992-93. The Purple Eagles led the country in turnovers forced per game, steals per game, and turnover margin. Niagara set new program record in turnovers forced that was set in 2021-22. The Purple Eagles earned votes in the Mid-Major national poll for multiple weeks during the season. Aaliyah Parker and Angel Parker were both All-MAAC First Team selections while both were top five in scoring in the MAAC. Four Purple Eagles earned MAAC All-Academic honors while Maddy Yelle was a CSC All-District All-Academic honoree The 2021-22 season was the best for Niagara under Pierce as the Purple Eagles finished 15-15 overall and 11-9 in conference play en route to the programs first MAAC Semifinal’s appearance in nine seasons. Pierce mentored two All-MAAC selections, and MAAC Rookie of the Year Aaliyah Parker. The Purple Eagles led the nation in forced turnovers per game and Angel Parker finished second in the nation in steals per game. The Purple and White also led the MAAC in points per game during the 2021-22 season. Angel Parker was named to the MAAC All-Championship Team and four Purple Eagles earned MAAC All-Academic honors. The 2020-21 season was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic with the Purple and White playing just 11 games. Niagara finished 4-7 overall and 4-6 in league play and fell to the Siena Saints in the first round of the MAAC Tournament. Pierce helped Angel Parker make tremendous strides as a sophomore, helping her land on the All-MAAC Second Team. The Purple Eagles went 10-21 overall and 7-13 in MAAC play in 2019-20. After defeating No. 9 Saint Peter’s, 64-53, in the first round of the MAAC Championships, the No. 8 Purple Eagles faced No. 1 Rider in the MAAC quarterfinals, falling to the Broncs by just five points, 79-74. Senior guard Maggie McIntyre was named the Sixth Player of the Year. Jai Moore was selected to the All-MAAC Second Team and freshman guard Adia Brisker was a unanimous selection to the MAAC All-Rookie Team. Six players were named to the MAAC All-Championship Team and 10 earned MAAC All-Academic Team honors. During the 2018-19 season, Pierce led the Purple Eagles to their best conference start since the 2004-05 season, with the team going 7-4 through its first 11 MAAC games. On Feb. 13, Niagara defeated crosstown rival Canisius, 74-52, in the Gallagher Center. It was Niagara’s first regular season victory over the Griffs since the 2013-14 season and first overall victory over Canisius since the first round of the 2016 MAAC Championships. The Purple Eagles went 12-19 overall and competed in the Preseason WNIT for the first time in program history. At the conclusion of the season, Jai Moore was selected to the All-MAAC First Team and six Purple Eagles were named to the MAAC All-Academic Team. The Purple Eagles finished the 2017-18 season 13-18, with a 9-9 MAAC record, which was the team’s best record since the 2014-15 season. NU was the No. 6 seed in the MAAC Tournament. Forward Victoria Rampado was named the MAAC Player of the Year and was a unanimous selection to the All-MAAC First Team. She was also named to the All-ECAC Second Team and to the DI-AAA Athletics Directors Association Scholar-Athlete Team. Forward Kaylee Stroemple was named to the All-MAAC Third Team and Niagara landed eight players on the MAAC All-Academic Team. The Purple Eagles played one of the most difficult non-conference schedules in the country in 2016-17. Niagara opened the season with a 65-43 win over Little 3 rival St. Bonaventure, the teams’ first victory over the Bonnies since 2006. Niagara faced two nationally ranked teams, welcoming then-No. 6/5 Maryland to the Gallagher Center on Nov. 20 and playing at then-No. 20/19 Syracuse on Dec. 10. Following the 2016-17 season, Victoria Rampado was named to the All-MAAC Second Team and six players were named to the MAAC All-Academic Team. Pierce earned her first win as coach of the Purple Eagles, as well as her first win in the Gallagher Center, on Nov. 27, 2015 in a thrilling 73-72 victory over Cleveland State. She picked up her first conference win against Fairfield; Niagara defeated the Stags, 56-55, on Jan. 4, 2016. Pierce also led the team in an upset against local rival Canisius in the first round of the MAAC Tournament; the ninth-seeded Purple Eagles defeated the eighth-seeded Golden Griffins, 65-64, to move onto the quarterfinals and take on top-seeded Quinnipiac. Following the 2015-16 season, senior center Sam Lapszynski, who thrived under Pierce, was named to the All-MAAC Second Team. Lapszynski was also one of 20 student-athlete recipients of the 14th Annual Division I-AAA Athletic Directors Association Scholar Athlete Teams. All seven eligible members of the 2015-16 Purple Eagles’ squad were named to the MAAC All-Academic Team. Pierce has coached 30 all-conference players, one Player of the Year, three Defensive Players of the Year, one Sixth Player of the Year, 53 all-academic honorees, two WNBA players and assisted four programs to five NCAA Tournament berths.
# NAME YR POS HT HOMETOWN/PREVIOUS TEAM 0 Sophia Kelly R-Fr. G 5-9 Pittsburgh, Pa./Hampton H.S. 1 Singo Lekeuneu Jr. G 5-6 Buffalo,NY/Christian Central Academy 3 Danielle Grim Jr. G 5-7 Columbus,Oh./Bishop Watterson H.S. 5 Jenna Van Schaik So. G 5-7 Cincinnati,Oh./Ursuline Academy 10 Julia Buchman Gr. G 5-9 Orefield, Pa./Parkland H.S. 13 Maria McConnell Jr. G 5-11 Nanty Glo, Pa./Blacklick Valley H.S. 14 Paige Woodford Sr. G 5-6 Hilliard, Oh./Bishop Watterson H.S. 15 Ava Waid Jr. G 5-6 Meadville, Pa./Villa Maria Academy 23 Grace Clary Sr. G 5-10 Whitehall, Pa./Whitehall H.S. 24 Quinn Borroni Fr. G 5-8 Beaver Falls, Pa./Blackhawk H.S. 30 Allyson Ross Jr. G 5-4 Columbia Station, Oh./Columbia H.S. 31 Lexi Wagner Gr. G 5-10 Galesville, Pa./G-E-T 33 Sarah Hortin Jr. F 6-0 Rockville, Md./Connelly School of Holy Child 34 Bailey Kuhns So. F 5-11 Mount Pleasant. Pa./ Greenburg Central Catholic 40 Kate Deutsch Sr. F 5-11 Ocean City, N.J./ Camden Catholic High School 45 Lauren Klare Sr. G 5-10 Cincinnati, Oh./ Ursuline Academy Head Coach: Brooklyn Kohlheim Assistant Coach: Molly Glick Graduate Assistant:Sophia Fortner Mercyhurst Lakers
# NAME YR POS HT HOMETOWN/PREVIOUS TEAM 2 Nadechka Laccen Sr. G 5-6 San Juan, PR/ Superior Vocational/Tyler JC 10 Tianna Johnson Sr. G 5-10 Peoria, III./ Richwoods. New Mexico JC/Seward CC 11 Kirah Dandridge So. G 5-10 Richmond, Va./ New Hope Academy 12 Taylor Napper Jr. F 6-0 Lorton, Va./ St. John’s College 13 Maddie Dziezgowski Sr. G/F 5-10 Bethel Park, Pa./ Bethel Park 14 Isabellah Middleton R-Jr. G 5-9 Leesburg, Va./ Tuscarora/ Slippery Rock 20 Tamar voor de Port So. G 6-0 Doetinchem, Netherlands/ Ludger College/Lekdetec.nl 22 Dani Haskell Sr. G 5-6 Franklinville, N.Y./ Canisius 24 Payton Fields Sr. F 6-0 El Paso, Texas/ Pebble Hills/ Western Nebraska CC 33 Claire Cody R-Sr. F 5-11 Carmel, N.Y./ Carmel Head Coach: Jim Crowley Associate Coach: Tiara Johnson Assistant Coach: Kelcie Rombach Assistant Coach: Jim Brunelli Director of Womens Basketball Operations: Kayla Jackson Womens Basketball Video Coordinator : Chad Smith St. Bonaventure Bonnies
# NAME YR POS HT HOMETOWN/PREVIOUS TEAM 1 Jerni Kiaku So. G 5-7 Garner, NC/ Garner Magnet HS/ NC Central 2 Kaitlyn Ammons R-So. F 6-3 Morgantown, W.Va./ Morgantown/DePual 4 Megan McConnell Jr G 5-7 Pittsburgh, Pa./ Chartiers Valley 10 Gabby Grantham-Medley Fr. G 5-9 Hagerstown, MD/ North Hagerstown 11 Naelle Bernard Jr. G 5-5 Paris, France/ Maurice Ravel/ Salt Lake City CC 12 Raymi Coueta Fr. G 5-8 Cayennes, French Guiana/ Thetford (Quebec) Acadmemy 14 Lauren Wasylon R-Sr. G 6-0 Valencia, Pa./ Mars/ Xavier 20 Amaya Hamilton Sr. G/F 6-2 Fishers, Ind./ Hamilton Southeastern 22 Kiandra Browne Jr. G/F 6-2 Montreal, Quebec, Canada/ St-Laurent/Inidana 24 Tess Myers Jr. G 5-9 Lower Burrell, Pa./ North Catholic 30 Selma Kulo R-So. C 6-4 Sarajevo, Bosnia/Brookwood/Western Kentucky 31 Precious Johnson Sr. F 6-4 Helsinborg,Sweden/Marks Gymnasieskola 44 Ayanna Townsend Sr. C 6-2 Pittsburgh, Pa./ Winchester Thurston/ Xavier Head Coach: Dan Burt Assistant Coach: Vanessa Abel Assistant Coach: Rick Bell Assistant Coach: Frank Ferraro Assistant Coach: RJ Bell Director of Basketball Operations: Melissa Franko Duquesne Dukes
# NAME YR POS HT WT HOMETOWN/PREVIOUS TEAM 1 Chayil Mauristhene Fr G 5-8 Milton, Mass. / Noble & Greenough School / 2 Jada Thornton Sr. G 5-9 Germantown, Md./ Gaithersburg 3 Brooke paquette Fr. G 5-8 Hudson, N.H./ Bishop Guertin 4 Cameron Ward Sr. F 5-10 Bound Brook, N.J./ Bound Brook 5 Chelsea Graiver So. G 5-6 Falmouth, Maine/ Greely 10 Sharn hayward Jr. G 5-6 Penguin, Tasmania/ Marist Regional 12 Breana Delaney Fr. G 5-9 Marlbror, N.J./ Saint John Vianney 13 Isabella Mallory Fr. C 6-2 Mansfield center, Conn./E.O. Smith 15 Lauren Sampson Gr. G/F 6-1 Waltham, Mass./ Waltham/ Providence 21 Anna Boruta Gr. G 5-10 Vienna, Austria/ Boehaavegasse/ Northeastern 22 Emma Arca Fr. F 6-1 Rome, italy/ St. Andrews school 30 Catelyn Wheeler Fr. G/F 5-10 Tyngsborough, Mass/ Bishop Guertin 31 Paige Martin So. F 6-0 Hastings-on-Hudson, N.Y./ Hastings/ St. Francis-Brooklyn 44 Maureen Stapleton Jr. F 6-0 Spring Lake Heights, N.J./ Saint Rose Head Coach: Trisha Brown Assistant Coach: Marcus Reilly Assistant Coach: Jill Conroy Assistant Coach: Jhay Fletcher Stonehill Skyhawks
# NAME YR POS HT WT HOMETOWN/PREVIOUS TEAM 1 Pa’Shence Traylor-Walker So. G 5-8 Franklin, Ind./Central Arizona College 2 Reniya Jones Jr. G 5-7 Washington, D.C./UT Arlington 3 Maci Rhoades So. G 5-11 Beavercreek, OH/Beavercreek H.S. 4 Joi Williams Fr. G 5-7 Ashburn, Va./Virginia Academy 5 Olivia Wagner So. G 5-7 Crozet, Va./ St. Annes-Belfield School 11 Ashlyn Traylor-Walker So. G 5-8 Franklin, Ind./Franklin Community H.S. 12 Arshae Jackson Fr. G 5-10 Church Hill, Va./James River H.S. 15 Terissa Lavoile-Brice Fr. F 6-0Saint-Laurent, Quebec, Canada/Winston-Salem Christian 21 Adelyn Traylor-Walker Fr. G 5-8 Franklin, Ind./Bella Vista Preparatory School 22 Taniya Hanner Gr. F 6-1 Hillsdale, N.J./Albany 23 Kirby Brown Jr. F 6-0 Hixson, Tenn./Roane State 30 Bria Beverly Jr. G 5-11 Dallastown, Pa/Millersville 33 Ellie Taylor Sr. G 5-10 Bardstown, Ky./Northern Kentucky 52 Emma Fox So. C 6-4 Newtown, N.C./Newton-Conover H.S. Head Coach: Mike McGuire Assistant Coach: Amber Easter Assistan Coach: Alex Tomlinson Assistant Coach: Morgan Williams Director of Basketball Operations: Carlie Clary Radford Highlanders
# NAME YR POS HT HOMETOWN/PREVIOUS TEAM 1 Kendall McGruder Jr. G 5-9 Grand Praire, TX/North Texas 2 Mimi Rubino Sr. G 5-7 Pequannock, N.J./Morris Catholic 3 Janelle Brown Sr. G 5-6 Middle Island, N.Y./Longwood HS 4 Kaety L’Amoreaux Fr. G 5-6 Endwell, N.Y./Maine Endwell 5 Meghan Andersen Fr. F 6-1 Wantagh, N.Y./Our Lady of Mercy Academy 10 Izabela Nicoletti Leite R-Sr. G 5-10 Americana, São Paulo, Brazil/Florida State 11 Karly Fischer Fr. F 6-2 Tappan, N.Y./Albertus Magnus HS 12 Kate Peek So. G 5-9 Poughkeepsie, N.Y./The Millbrook School 15 Lauren Beach Jr. F 6-1 Medway, Mass./Medway 21 Nicole Gallagher Gr. G 5-8 Foxboro, Mass./Bryant 22 Casey Prior Fr. G 5-7 Sea Girt, N.J./Red Bank Catholic 23 Emina Selimovic Jr. G 5-10 Erie, Pa./Siena 25 MacKenzie Daleba Sr. F 5-11 Dorchester, Mass./Cathedral 33 Brooke Tatarian Jr. G 5-10 Yonkers, N.Y./The Masters School 34 Dayna Tirado Sr. F 6-1 Closter, N.J./Northern Valley Demarest Head Coach: Carly Thibault-DuDonis Assistant Coach: Erik Johnson Assistant Coach: Erika Brown Assistant Coach: Blake DuDonis Director of Basketball Operations: Alex McKinnon Graduate Assistant: Aislinn Flynn Fairfield Stags
# NAME YR POS HT WT HOMETOWN/PREVIOUS TEAM 00 Isabella Hunt F Sr. 5-11 Johnstown, Pa. / Bishop McCort 1 KC Carter G Gr. 5-8 Brooklyn, N.Y./Cornell 2 Tessa Engelman F Fr. 6-3 Calgary, Alb., Canada / DME Academy [Fla.] 3 Maddie Novak G Gr. 6-0 Oxford, Mich. / Stetson 4 Jo Raflo G Jr. 5-11 Gainesville, Va. / Presbyterian 5 Gabrielle Kennerly G Fr. 5-9 Ellicott City, Md. / Howard 6 Rosa Revueltas G Jr. 5-8 Almeria, Spain /Arizona Western 11 Jada Lee G R-Jr. 5-5 Pittsburgh, Pa. / Carlynton 12 Giana Hoddinott G R-Fr. 5-9 Littlestown, Pa. / Delone Catholic 13 Aniya Walker F Gr. 6-2 Pittsburgh, Pa. /Duquesne 15 Jasmine Lindsay-Huskey G Jr. 5-10 Middletown, Md. / St. John’s Catholic Prep 20 Jaedyn Jamison F R-So. 6-1 Rocky Mount, Va. / Franklin County 22 Jessica Tomasetti G Sr. 5-5 North Potomac, Md. / Our Lady of Good Counsel 33 McKenzie Matheny F So. 5-11 West Springfield, Va. / West Springfield 50 Jackie Christ C Gr. 6-3 Sterling, Va. /Radford Head Coach: Antoine White Assistant Coach: Kelsey Funderburgh Assistant Coach: Joe Haigh Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator: Maggie Tien Director of Operations: Tess Borgosz Mount St. Mary’s (Md.)
Promotional Schedule Oct. 27, 5 PM | Open Practice/Meet and Greet Nov. 1, 6 PM vs Mercyhurst | Paint the Town Purple-Domestic Violence Awareness Nov. 8, 6 PM vs St. Bonaventure | WNIT Banner Night/Student Tailgate/T-shirt giveaway/Magnet Night Nov. 11, 1 PM vs Duquesne | Military Appreciation Game Nov. 19, 1 PM vs Stonehill | Victoria Rampado Banner/Towel Giveaway Dec. 2, 2 PM vs Radford | Ugly Sweater Night/Faculty & Staff Appreciation Jan. 4, 11 AM vs Fairfield | Kids Day – Niagara Falls Jan. 18, 6 PM vs Manhatan | Resident Hall Challenge Jan. 20, 2 PM vs Quinnipiac | National Girls and Women In Sport Day/The Sports Bra Project Feb. 1, 6 PM vs St. Peter’s | 80’s Night Feb. 15, 6 PM vs Siena | Play4Kay/ Breast Cancer Awareness Night Feb. 17, 2 PM vs Marist | Heritage Game/Black History Month Mar. 2, 2 PM vs Iona | Season Ticket Holder Appreciation Night Mar. 9, 2 PM vs Canisius | Batle of the Bridge/Senior Night
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