Albany, N.Y. - When the Adelphi University women's basketball team needed a basket on Wednesday night, Niajah Morgan had the answer.

The senior guard exploded for a career-high 32 points to lead Adelphi (12-12, 9-8 NE10) to its third straight win, a 71-66 decision at the College of Rose. 

The 32-point outburst is not only a new career high for the senior guard, but marks is the first 30-point game for an Adelphi women's basketball player since Calli Balfour ('17) scored 31 points in a 69-49 victory over LIU Post on Nov. 21, 2016.

Morgan shot 14-28 from the floor and notched her seventh double-double of the season with 11 rebounds as well, reaching the 30-point plateau on the back of a basket and one with 3:23 left in the game as she flirted with the Adelphi single-game scoring record of 36 points, held by former teammate Sierra Clark, as well as Sade Jackson and Kellianne Dunlay. 

In was what ultimately proved to be a back-and-forth affair that saw seven ties and nines lead changes, Adelphi trailed by one (64-63) with 2:46 remaining in the game but scored eight of the last 10 points of the contest to sneak away with its third straight victory. 

Though Morgan did the heavy lifting offensively in the game, Leonie Edringer and Fallyn Stephens provided support, as the former notched her own seventh double-double of the season with 12 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks, while the latter added 12 points off the bench. 

Adelphi started cold from the floor over the first four minutes of the contest, going 0-for-10 with two turnovers to begin the game, as Saint Rose (11-12, 4-12 NE10) built a 7-0 lead with 6:21 remaining in the first period. However, the Panthers got their offensive momentum rolling from there, as they scored the next 10 answered points to take their first lead, but trailed by one after the first 10 minutes, 14-13. 

Saint Rose continued to shoot well in the second period, building a lead as much as six and living with a five-point lead as late as 3:01, but a Morgan three-pointer kicked off an 11-3 run for the Panthers which saw them end the half leading, 31-27, as Stephens sank a deep three from the left wing as time expired. 

Hot shooting from Saint Rose's Ashley Vanderwaal nonetheless helped the home team wrestle the lead back in the third period, as she scored eight of her team-high 17 points over a 12-4 scoring run for the Golden Knights which turned that deficit into a with 6:36 remaining in the period. A 7-0 Adelphi answer, keyed by five from the hand of Stephens, would nevertheless help the road team take a 48-47 lead to set the stage for a dramatic final frame.

The Panthers look to run their winning streak to four straight games on Saturday afternoon, as they make the quick trip north to Westchester County for a 1:30 p.m. tilt with the Pace University Setters.

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About Adelphi Athletics
A regionally and nationally competitive NCAA Division II institution located in Garden City, N.Y., Adelphi University has been a proud member of the Northeast-10 Conference since 2009.

Winners of 16 NCAA Division II National Championships and four NE10 Presidents' Cups, Panther athletes have excelled at the conference, regional and national level, both on the field of play and in the classroom. In turn, the Adelphi athletic department is committed to fostering an environment of diversity, inclusion, equity and success where its student-athletes can thrive both on campus and off.

Stay connected with Adelphi Athletics by following the Panthers at aupanthers.com or via social media on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram and wear your Panther pride by shopping official Adelphi Panthers gear at our licensed team store.