Niagara Purple Eagles (1-5, 0-0 MAAC) vs. Marist Red Foxes (5-1, 0-0 MAAC)

Friday, December 5 at 7:00 P.M. ET

Gallagher Center

The Tip-Off

Niagara will open its conference season with a clash with defending MAAC regular and conference champion, the Marist Red Foxes (5-1) on Friday, Dec. 5 at 7 pm. The Purple Eagles will also welcome the Siena Saints (0-6) on Sunday afternoon.

The games versus Marist and Siena are the ninth-straight season that two conference games are sandwiched between Niagara’s non-conference schedule.  The Purple Eagles have done fairly well in MAAC December games, especially at home, and this season’s games will feature interesting matchups. Marist comes into Monteagle Ridge with a 5-1 record, last season’s MAAC Player of the Year and a Round of 32 appearance in last season’s NCAA Tournament. Siena comes to Western New York looking for its first win of the season.

Start The Clock

-  Niagara is 9-10 in MAAC openers and 6-4 in home MAAC openers.

-  Niagara and Marist are tied at 12-12 in their series history.

-  The Purple Eagles trail 36-21 in the all-time series with Siena.

-  Niagara is 10-11 all-time in December MAAC games and is 7-3 at home.

-  Niagara is second in the MAAC in rebounds per game with 38.0.

-  On Dec. 1, Jennifer McNamee past former guard and current assistant coach Katie Murphy in all-time 3-point attempts (322).

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

In MAAC Openers

The Niagara Purple Eagles are 9-10 in MAAC openers since joining the conference in 1989. Niagara has dropped their last three openers after winning three-straight from 2002-2004. Niagara is 6-4 in home MAAC openers, including 4-1 in the last five games. The Purple Eagles have opened their MAAC schedule against the Red Foxes only once; Niagara defeated Marist 71-66 in overtime on Dec. 8, 2000.

Niagara, the MAAC and December

Niagara has had a touch-n-go relationship against MAAC opponents in the month of December. Since joining the conference in 1989, the Purple Eagles have played in 21 games versus MAAC teams in December and are 10-11 in those games. Niagara played a December game in each of the first two seasons as a MAAC member, but didn’t play another MAAC December game until Dec. 20, 1997 against Canisius. Niagara is 7-3 at home in these games and is 2-1 against Marist and 1-2 versus Siena. 

MAAC December Games By Opponents

Canisius.................................................................................................................................3-0

Fairfield.................................................................................................................................. 0-2

Iona......................................................................................................................................... 0-1

Loyola..................................................................................................................................... 0-2

Manhattan.............................................................................................................................. 1-2

Marist...................................................................................................................................... 2-1

Rider....................................................................................................................................... 2-1

Saint Peter’s.......................................................................................................................... 1-0

Siena ..................................................................................................................................... 1-2

TOTAL................................................................................................................................ 10-11

On the Court

Marist (5-1)

The defending MAAC Regular Season and Tournament Champions, the Marist Red Foxes, steamroll into the Gallagher Center with a 5-1 record. The only blemish on their record was an 83-57 loss at No. 4 Oklahoma on Nov. 26. Marist features 2008 MAAC Player of the Year junior forward Rachele Fitz and senior guard Julianne Viani. The duo rank one-two in the MAAC in points per game, with Fitz leading with 24.8 and is followed by Viani’s 15.7 points per game.  Fitz is third in rebounding with 8.2 boards a game Viani leads the MAAC with 6.7 assists per game. As a team, Marist has been clicking on offense. The Red Foxes lead the MAAC in points per game (73.2), free throw percentage (82.5%), field goal percentage (46.9%) and assists per game (17.8).

Against the Red Foxes (Series tied at 12-12)

The Niagara-Marist series has been a tale of streaks.  The Purple Eagles won nine of the first 10 meetings between the Red Foxes from 1979-1991. However, the Red Foxes have had the better share of wins lately. Marist has reeled off eight-straight games. Niagara’s last win was a 65-54 victory at home on Feb. 6, 2004.

Last Meeting - February 15, 2008, Niagara 51 - Marist 66

POUGHKEEPSIE., N.Y. – The Niagara University Purple Eagle women’s basketball team put up a strong game against the No. 25 Marist Red Foxes, but ultimately fell in defeat 66-51 in front of 2,284 at the McCann Center on Friday night.

Against the Saints (Saints lead 36-21)

Siena holds a 36-21 all-time advantage over Niagara since the two teams began play in 1979. The Purple Eagles’s best run in the series was a string of three-straight wins from Jan. 1999 to Feb. 2000. The Saints enter this Sunday game boasting a three-game winning streak in the series, including a narrow 76-75  escape win at the Gallagher Center last Februaray. 

Last Meeting - Februaray 10, 2008, Siena 76 - Niagara 75

NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – Sarah Wilson netted a double-double, including a career-high 28 points, but it wasn’t enough as the Purple Eagles women’s basketball team (5-19; 3-10 MAAC) dropped a heartbreaking 76-75 decision in front of 487 on Think Pink Day.