Niagara Purple Eagles (1-14, 0-4 MAAC) vs. Siena Saints (3-10, 1-4 MAAC)
Sunday, January 11 at 2:00 P.M. ET
TV: Time Warner SportsNet - Albany
Live Audio: Radio Disney
Live Stats: Siena Saints All-Access
The Tip-Off
|
Liz Flooks
|
Niagara concludes its first conference road weekend with a key early season game at the Siena Saints on Sunday at 2 p.m. The Saints narrowly edged the Purple Eagles at the Gallagher Center in the first meeting this season.
Start The Clock
- The Purple Eagles’ strength of schedule (SOS) is 58th; best in the MAAC.
- Niagara shot a season-high 56.1 percent from the field and 73.3 percent from the 3-point line in its first game of the New Year versus Canisius.
- Jennifer McNamee recorded a career-high 28 points off of 9-for-10 shooting from the field and 6-for-7 from 3’s against Canisius.
- Liz Flooks had her 27-straight free throws streak end at Marist on Jan. 3.
- Flooks is 15th in the nation in free throw percentage (87.2 percent).
- Liz Flooks and Jennifer McNamee rank second and fourth, respectively, in the MAAC in free throw percentage.
Where to Watch/Listen
Today’s game will be televised live on Time Warner SportsNet (Albany) and can be seen on Time Warner Sports (channel 13) which covers Buffalo, Niagara Falls, Olean and Bradford, Pa. The game can also be viewed via Siena Saints All-Access and audio from Radio Disney.
On the Court
Siena Saints (3-10, 1-4 MAAC)
The Saints have picked up two more wins since the last meeting with the Purple Eagles. Siena held off Rider, 58-54, on Friday, Jan. 9 behind Heather Stec’s 23 points. Stec leads the team, nearly averaging a double-double, with 13.5 points per game and 8.5 rebounds per game.
Last Meeting - December 7, 2008, Siena 63 - Niagara 54
NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – The Siena Saints scored the final eight points in the game to narrowly defeat Niagara, 63-54, on Sunday at the Gallagher Center. Liz Flooks had a career-high 26 points and was 9-for-9 from the free-throw line in the game.
Against the Saints (Saints lead 37-21)
Siena holds a 37-21 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 four-game winning streak in the series, with all four games decided in the final minutes.
|
The Series |
Siena leads 37-21 |
|
Last Game |
December 7, 2008, Siena 63, Niagara 54 |
|
Last Niagara win |
February 1, 2007, Siena 68, Niagara 72 (ot) |
|
Last Siena win |
December 7, 2008, Siena 63, Niagara 54 |
|
Last Niagara win in Loudonville |
December 5, 2003, Niagara 65-56 |
|
Last Siena win in Loudonville |
January 21, 2008, Niagara 62, Siena 67 |
|
Current streak |
Siena has won the last four games |
|
Coach Faustin vs. Siena |
0-3 |
Nothing But Net
Niagara had one of its best shooting days in recent history against archrival Canisius on Jan. 4. The Purple Eagles shot a season-best 56.1 percent (24-for-41) from the field, were 11-for-15 (73.3 percent) behind the arc and shot 78.9 percent (15-for-19) from the free-throw line for their second-best free throw output since their opening game at Michigan State (10-for-10).
Facing the Best
Niagara has consistency faced some of the best opposition this season and the stats does not lie. Niagara’s strength of schedule (SOS) is a MAAC best 59th entering today’s game; 31 spots ahead of second place Loyola. Jan. 3rd game versus the AP Poll No. 25 Marist was the first ranked opponent at game time Niagara has faced this season. The Purple Eagles have played at Michigan State and Iowa State when both teams were unranked, but both teams have since been ranked in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches’ Poll and AP Top 25; Iowa State is ranked 25th in this week’s ESPN/USA Today Poll.
Gaining Ground Nationally
Liz Flooks’ smooth shooting touch had led to a top 20 ranking in the nation. Flooks’ 88.4 free throw percentage ranks 15th in the nation. She also leads the team and is second in the MAAC, two spots ahead of teammate Jennifer McNamee (86.3 perecent). Flooks had her consecutive streak of 27-straight free throws snapped in the loss to Marist on Jan. 3.
