Niagara Purple Eagles (1-12, 0-2 MAAC) vs. Canisius Golden Griffins (9-4, 1-1 MAAC)

Sunday, January 4 at 2:00 P.M. ET

Gallagher Center

TV: Time Warner Cable SportsNet

Live Stats and Audio: PurpleEagles.com

The Tip-Off

Niagara returns to conference play and will face arch rival the Canisius Golden Griffins in the Purple Eagles’ first game of 2009.  The Purple Eagles have won three of the last five games against the Golden Griffins.

Start The Clock

- Erika Harris was named to the American Family Insurance Cyclone Challenge All-Tournament Team. She averaged 12.5 points and 6 rebounds in two games.

-  Liz Flooks has made her last 17 free throws.

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

-  The Purple Eagles are third in the MAAC in rebounds per game (37.1).

-  This is the third game against Big 4 rivals (Buffalo, St. Bonaventure, Canisius).

-  Niagara is 18-17 all-time at home versus Canisius.

On the Court

Canisius Golden Griffins (9-4, 1-1 MAAC)

Canisius brings a six-game winning streak into the Gallagher Center. The Golden Griffins last loss was against defending MAAC champs, the Marist Red Foxes, on Dec. 7. They are second in the conference behind the Red Foxes in points per game with 66.1 and scoring margin at +6.2. Canisius leads the MAAC in 3-point made (111) and 3-point percentage (.422).  The Golden Griffins also do a great job of controlling the ball; Canisius holds a +5.23 turnover margin and a 1.1 assist/turnover ratio which are both first in the conference. Senior forward Marie Warner leads the team and is second in the MAAC with 16.6 points per game and leads the MAAC shooting .891 (41-46) from the free-throw line. Junior guard Brittane Russell leads the MAAC in steals (2.8) and Canisius have the top three 3-point percentage shooters in Micayla Drysdale, Warner and Russell.

Last Meeting - March 6, 2008, Niagara 51 - Canisius 63, MAAC Tournament 1st Rd

ALBANY, N.Y. – The Niagara University Purple Eagle women’s basketball team was not able to keep up with cross-town rival Canisius, as it fell in the first round of the MAAC Tournament 63-51. The Purple Eagles finished the season at 8-22.

Against the Golden Griffins (Canisius leads 41-29)

The Golden Griffins are Niagara’s chief rival; the 70 meetings are the most against any team. The series has been tightly contested with the Purple and White taking three of the last five games.  Last season, Niagara won a dramatic overtime game, 65-63, on senior day. The game was only the second-ever overtime game in the series. The Purple Eagles are 18-17 at home, including winning the last two meetings at the Gallagher Center.

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 and lost to St. Bonaventure o. 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.