NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. -- The Niagara University women’s basketball team (9-6, 1-3) returns to the legendary Gallagher Center for its first home game of the new year when it hosts Rider University (1-14, 0-4) Friday at 7 p.m.

The Purple Eagles picked up their first Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference victory of the season Monday when they beat Manhattan, 70-51, in Riverdale.

Rider enters Friday’s game looking for its first league win of the season and an end to a four-game losing streak. The Broncs lost their last outing, 84-59, to Marist on Monday.

Niagara leads the all-time series with Rider, 12-9.