NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, NY – Niagara (3-2, 0-0 MAAC) took the lead early in the second quarter and didn't look back as it defeated Marquette (1-4, 0-0 Big East) 12-9 Sunday afternoon in non-conference women's lacrosse action from Niagara Field. Lois Garlow paced the Purple and White attack, scoring five goals and collecting an assist. Lexi Braniecki scored twice in the contest, and Brenna Duffy added a team-best three helpers. Michelle Messenger got the start between the pipes, playing all 60-minutes, recording 10 saves on 19 shots for her second win of the season. Game Recap First Quarter • Niagara found themselves in an early 2-0 hole as the Golden Eagles scored twice in the first 3:10 of the contest. • Eliza Wild would put Niagara on the board with her first tally of the season at the 9:39 mark of the opening quarter. • Marquette added a third goal at the 5:34 mark to give the visitors a 3-1 lead. • The Purple and White would score twice in the final 2:30 as Rachel Crane and Lexi Braniecki found the back of the net to even the score. Second Quarter • Niagara would keep its foot on the gas to start the second quarter, scoring four straight to take the lead. • Lois Garlow and Jaclyn Crane took passes from teammate Brenna Duffy to give NU a two-goal advantage, 5-3. • A woman-up goal from Lucy Rugaber and an unassisted goal from Andra Savage gave Niagara its largest lead of the first half, 7-3. • Marquette would get one back before the half ended, making the score 7-4 at the break. Third Quarter • The second half started with neither club finding the back of the net for the first 7:05 of play before the Golden Eagles scored their fifth goal of the game to draw within two of the Purple and White. • Niagara would regain its multi-goal lead when Garlow found the back of the net at the 4:51 mark. • That was the start of three goals in a 2:39 span for the Purple Eagles as Braniecki scored her second goal of the game, and Garlow picked up her third to give NU a five-goal lead, 10-5. • The Golden Eagles would score once more before the end of the third to trim Niagara's lead to four. Fourth Quarter • Niagara scored first in the final stanza as Garlow registered her fourth goal of the contest after being set up by Duffy. • The next five minutes of action saw the visitors pull within three before Garlow once again found the back of the net for NU's 12th goal of the contest and her fifth. • The Golden Eagles would score one more, but the Niagara lead was insurmountable, and the Purple Eagles came out on top, 12-9. Niagara Notes • Sunday marked the first win over Big East foe Marquette for the Purple Eagles. • Garlow recorded her third-straight multi-goal game and fourth this season. The junior leads the team in goals (13) and points (18). • Duffy now has five assists this season, tied for the top spot on the team. • Messenger recorded her first game with double-digit saves this season. The reigning MAAC Goalkeeper of the Year had eight games a year ago with 10-plus saves. • The Purple and White finished the game with 20 shots on goal, 15 caused turnovers (season-high), and 20 groundballs. • Jess Foley and TaNia Cunningham combined for seven caused turnovers with four and three, respectively. The two defenders, along with Messenger, also picked up four groundballs each. • Niagara has recorded five assists in each of the last two games. Up Next • Niagara travels to Greenville, N.C., for a 5 p.m. contest against East Carolina - the first of three on the road for the Purple Eagles.