Niagara Purple Eagles (1-8, 0-2 MAAC)

vs. St. Bonaventure Bonnies (6-2, 0-0 A-10)

Wednesday, December 17 at 11:00 A.M. ET

Gallagher Center

TV: Time Warner Cable SportsNet

Live Stats, Video and Audio via PurpleEagles.com

The Tip-Off

The Niagara Purple Eagles are back at the Gallagher Center for a matinee showdown with Big Four rival, the St. Bonavenutre Bonnies, as part of Niagara University’s Kid’s Day. The game is the first-ever advance sellout in program history.

Start The Clock

-  The Dec. 17 game versus St. Bonaventure is the first-ever advance sell out in NU women’s hoops history.

-  Ali Morris was named MAAC Rookie of the Week (12/15/08).

-  Niagara trails in the all-time series 22-29.

-  The teams have alternated wins in the last seven meetings - home team has won them all.

-  Niagara is 18-10 all-time at home versus the Bonnies.

-  The Purple Eagles are 69-81 against the Big Four (Buffalo, Canisius and St. Bonaventure).

-  Niagara is 27-51 all-time versus Atlantic 10 (A-10) competition.

-  Liz Flooks has made 11-straight free throws.

Where to Watch/Listen

The Niagara/St. Bonaventure game will be broadcast by Time Warner Cable SportsNet (Buffalo/Niagara Falls). The tape-delayed broadcast will be shown on Dec. 17 at 7 p.m. and on Dec. 18 at 4 p.m. on Time Warner Cable, Ch. 13 (Buffalo).  Dave Universal will provide live audio via webstream on Purpleeagles.com.  

History in the Making

The Niagara women’s basketball program has accomplished a first-ever feat this month. The Dec. 17 game against the St. Bonaventure Bonnies is the first-ever advanced sell out for a home Niagara women’s basketball game in its 35-year history.

The game versus the Bonnies will be the second and final Kids’ Day game hosted by Niagara University this year. Kids’ Day is an event that gives the local community kids an opportunity to be at a live NCAA Division I women’s basketball game. Last season’s Kids’ Day game set a record attendance of 2,192 in a game against Jacksonville on Dec. 20. This season’s first Kids’ Day game brought a season-high of 1,027 fans on Dec. 1.

Morris Named MAAC Rookie of the Week

Freshman guard Ali Morris was named Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Rookie of the Week (Dec. 15) for her outstanding play against the Syracuse Orange.

Morris led Niagara with a career-high 17 points and a team-high four assists in the Purple Eagles loss at the Big East’s Syracuse Orange in the team’s only game of the week. Morris effectively ran the offense well against an aggressive half court and zone trap. She showed a lot of poise playing against the Orange and was able to break through several traps and double teams to set up teammates for easy lay ups. Morris had a career-best in field goals made (six), 3-pointers made (3), assists (4) and minutes (29).

On the Court

St. Bonaventure Bonnies (6-2)

St. Bonaventure’s schedule resembles the Purple Eagles with familiar opponents; the Bonnies have alerady faced Binghamton, Buffalo, Canisius, Oakland and Michigan State, and will face Marist, Syracuse and A-10 foe Duquesne (twice) before the end of the season. St. Bonaventure picked up two votes in the AP Top 25 poll after upsetting No. 21 Michigan State, 63-52, on Dec. 7 powered by a career-high 25 points by senior guard Katelyn Murray. Though, the hangover from the win caused them to lose to Bowling Green in their next outing. Dana Mitchell leads the team with 17 points per game and 6.9 rebounds per game. Murray is second on the team with 15.5 points per game.

Against the Bonnies (SBU leads 29-22)

The 51 meetings between the Purple Eagles and Bonnies are the second most games between Big Four rivals for Niagara (Canisius, 70). Home court has been influential in recent meetings. The series has alternated wins in the last seven meetings, with the home team being victorious in each game. The schools used to play each other twice a season, but that trend ended in the 1994-95 season, and they have played each other at least once since the inception of Niagara’s program in 1974.  The Purple Eagles are 18-10 at home versus the Bonnies. NU longest winning streak was 10 games from Dec. 1977 to Jan. 1982.

Last Meeting - November 20, 2007, Niagara 57-St. Bonaventure 76

OLEAN, NY. - Senior forward Sarah Wilson scored 18 points to lead the Purple Eagles, but it wasn’t enough as Niagara dropped a non-conference decision to St. Bonaventure 76-57.

Wilson scored 16 of her 18 points in the second half and Jennifer McNamee scored 13 of her 15 points in the second half, but it wasn’t enough. The Bonnies had double digit leads until Niagara went on a 10-2 run to pull within seven at 47-40 about halfway through the second half. After Niagara’s run, the Bonnies went on a 10-0 run in order to boost their lead to double digits again. Dana Mitchell had 23 points for St. Bonaventure.

Against the Atlantic 10

Niagara has a 27-51 record against teams in the A-10 conference. Niagara has already faced a A-10 team this season; the Purple Eagles lost to previously unbeaten Duquesne on Nov. 28.  The most opponents the Purple Eagles have played against is Big Four rival St. Bonaventure; the Bonnies hold a 29-22 advantage. Niagara’s best record versus a A-10 team is 2-1 against Saint Joseph.

A-10 Opponents

Dayton.................................................................................................................................... 0-1

Duquesne............................................................................................................................ 2-10

Fordham................................................................................................................................ 1-1

LaSalle................................................................................................................................... 0-8

Rhode Island......................................................................................................................... 0-1

St. Bonaventure............................................................................................................... 22-29

Saint Joseph......................................................................................................................... 2-1

TOTAL................................................................................................................................ 27-51

Against Big Four Rivals

Niagara is 69-81 versus Big Four foes Buffalo, Canisius and St. Bonaventure. Niagara fell at the Buffalo Bulls, 87-62, on Nov. 25. NU is 22-29 against St. Bonaventure and 29-41 versus Canisius. The Purple Eagles have done well as of late against SBU and Canisius; Niagara has won three of the last five games against both teams.