Niagara Purple Eagles (1-19, 0-9 MAAC) vs. Rider Broncs (6-14, 3-6 MAAC)

Friday, January 30 at 7:00 P.M. ET

Live Video: B2 Networks

Live Stats: PurpleEagles.com

Live Audio: Dave Universal (Yahoo!Sports)

The Tip-Off

The Niagara Purple Eagles are back in the Gallagher Center for another MAAC contest this weekend. The Purple and White are set to face the Rider Broncs for the first time this season.

Start The Clock

-  Niagara leads the all-time series with Rider, 15-10.

-  The Purple Eagles are 8-3 all-time at home versus the Broncs.

-  The Purple Eagles’ strength of schedule (SOS) of 101st is best in the MAAC.

-  Liz Flooks is 31st in the nation in free throw percentage (85.5 percent).

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

-  Flooks (13.9 ppg) and McNamee (13.3 ppg) rank eighth and tenth, 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

Rider Broncs (6-14, 3-6 MAAC)

The Broncs come to Monteagle Ridge after dropping their last two MAAC games. Rider snapped its 11-game losing streak with a four-game winning streak earlier this month, including winning three conference games. Junior guard Tammy Meyers leads the Broncs in scoring (14.2 ppg), assists (3.1 apg) and steals 1.8 (spg); junior guard Amanda Sepulveda is the only other player to average in double-figures (12.5).

Last Meeting - February 24, 2008, Rider 65 - Niagara 62

NIAGARA UNIV, N.Y. – The Niagara University Purple Eagle women’s basketball team dropped a heartbreaker to the Rider Broncs 65-62 in front of 331 at the Gallagher Center.

Against the Broncs (Purple Eagles lead 15-10)

Niagara holds a 15-10 advantage in the relatively young series with the Rider Broncs. The Purple Eagles ran off eight-straight victories from Feb. 2002-March 2005 and has won three of the last four meetings. The key number will be 60: Niagara is 14-6 when it scores more than 60 points and is 5-1 when holding Rider to less than 60.

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 101st 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 35 ranking in the nation. Flooks’ 85.5 free throw percentage ranks 31st in the nation. Flooks had been ranked as high as 15th this season. She also leads the team and is third in the MAAC, three spots ahead of teammate Jennifer McNamee (81.5 perecent). Flooks had her consecutive streak of 27-straight free throws snapped in the loss to Marist on Jan. 3.