Niagara Purple Eagles (1-17, 0-7 MAAC) vs. Saint Peter’s Peahens (5-11, 2-5 MAAC)

Friday, January 23 at 7:00 P.M. ET

Live Audio: Red Zone Media

The Tip-Off

Niagara heads to the New York metropolitan area for a MAAC weekend series. The Purple Eagles’ first stop will be in Jersey City, N.J. to face the Saint Peter’s Peahens on Friday night at the Yanitelli Center.

Start The Clock

-  The Purple Eagles’ strength of schedule (SOS) of 86th is best in the MAAC.

-  Liz Flooks is 27th in the nation in free throw percentage (87.5 percent).

-  Liz Flooks and Jennifer McNamee rank third and fourth, respectively, in the MAAC in free throw percentage.

-  McNamee ranks ninth in the conference in points (12.9); McNamee (15.3) and Flooks (14.4) rank sixth and seventh respectively, in scoring in MAAC games only.

- McNamee moved past Shauna Ambrose for sixth all-time in 3-point field goals attempts on Jan. 19

On the Court

SAINT PETER’S PEAHENS (5-11, 2-5 MAAC)

SPC has struggled on offense despite winning two MAAC games this season. The Peahens are last in the conference in scoring offense (55.6), free throw percentage (61.7) and field goal percentage (.350) but makes up the difference on the defensive end; SPC is fourth in the MAAC in scoring defense (59.8). Senior guard Tania Kennedy is the only player to average double-figures in scoring (12.5).

Last Meeting - January 25, 2008, Saint Peter’s 59 - Niagara 67

NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. - Niagara snapped a nine-game losing streak with a 67-59 win over the Saint Peter’s Peahens behind a powerful inside game at the Gallagher Center. The Purple Eagles grabbed as many rebounds (59) as Saint Peter’s tallied points on the night.

Senior Sarah Wilson recorded her second double-double of the year with a career-high 24 points and 16 rebounds. The 6-foot-2 forward grabbed eight of Niagara’s 20 offensive rebounds.

Against the Peahens (Peahens lead 37-10)

The Niagara-Saint Peter’s series is one of the Purple Eagles’ longer series with a MAAC opponent. The series started in 1980 and the teams have played each other 47 times. The Peahens have had the better share of results throughout the series, but Niagara did split the season series last season including winning the last meeting.

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 86th entering today’s game, which is best in the MAAC; the Purple Eagles entered Jan. 9th game at No. 25 Marist with the best MAAC SOS of 59. The Jan. 9 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 30 ranking in the nation. Flooks’ 87.5 free throw percentage ranks 27th in the nation. She also leads the team and is third in the MAAC, one spot ahead of teammate Jennifer McNamee (85.5 perecent). Flooks had her consecutive streak of 27-straight free throws snapped in the loss to Marist on Jan. 3.