Senior Jessica Kemp needs two points to join the 1,000-point club.

NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. -- This weekend the Niagara University women’s basketball team (9-6, 2-4) plays two games which are critical to its positioning in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference standings.

The Purple Eagles open their two-game homestand with Iona Saturday at 2 p.m. in the Gallagher Center.

Niagara enters the game having lost, 60-49, at second-place Loyola Jan. 18. Iona will be trying once again to snap a nine-game losing streak which includes four-straight losses to MAAC teams. The Gaels lost to Saint Peter’s Tuesday, 74-68.

Saturday’s game is the 28th meeting between the two teams and Niagara holds a 21-6 lead in the series.