Niagara Purple Eagles (1-13, 0-3 MAAC) vs. Marist Red Foxes (13-1, 4-0 MAAC)

Friday, January 9 at 7:30 P.M. ET

McCann Center

Live Audio: RedFoxes.com

The Tip-Off

Niagara will have its first conference road game of the season at newly-ranked No. 25 Marist Red Foxes on Friday night at 7:30 p.m in the McCann Center.

Start The Clock

-  Niagara shot a season-high 56.1 percent from the field and 73.3 percent from the 3-point line in its last game 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 has made 24-straight free throws. and is tied for 19th in the nation in free throw percentage (88.4 percent).

-  Liz Flooks and Jennifer McNamee rank second and fo

urth, respectively, in the MAAC in free throw percentage.

-  The Marist game will be the Purple Eagles’ first game versus a rank opponent this season.

-  This will be Niagara’s first conference road game.

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

Today’s game versus the AP Poll No. 25 Marist will be 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 is tied for 19th in the nation. She also leads the team and is second in the MAAC, two spots ahead of teammate Jennifer McNamee (86.3 perecent). Her run into the top 20 was helped by her current consecutive streak. Flooks has made her last 24 free throws, dating back to her career-high nine free throws and 26 points performance versus Siena.  

In Conference Road Openers

Niagara is 7-11 all-time in conference road openers since joining the MAAC in 1989. The Purple Eagles have dropped their last three road openers after reeling off three-straight with wins at Rider, Siena and Saint Peter’s. The Purple and White are 6-6 when their conference road openers are played in January. 

MAAC January Road Openers By Opponents

Canisius................................................................................................................................. 1-1

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

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

Saint Peter’s.......................................................................................................................... 3-2

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

TOTAL.................................................................................................................................... 6-6

On the Court

Marist Red Foxes (13-1, 4-0 MAAC)

The Red Foxes have not lost any momentum, nor games, since the last time these squads faced each other in their conference opener on Dec. 5 at the Gallagher Center. Marist is “top dog” in the MAAC, ranking first in scoring offense and defense, scoring margin, free throw and field goal percentage, and field goal and 3-point field goal defensive percentage.  Last season’s player of the year Rachele Fitz still leads the conference in point per game (21.4) and field goal percentage. Teammate Julianne Viani, who led the Red Foxes with 18 points in the last game against Niagara, leads the MAAC with 5.3 assists per game.

Last Meeting - December 5, 2008, Marist 60 - Niagara 38

NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – Niagara kept the defending MAAC Champion Marist Red Foxes under 30 points in the first half, but a second-half surged by Marist led to a 60-38 victory on Friday, Dec. 5 at the Gallagher Center.

Against the Red Foxes (Marist leads 13-12)

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. Marist has reeled off nine-straight games. In the first meeting this season, Niagara kept the defending MAAC Champion Marist Red Foxes under 30 points in the first half on 1-for-10 shooting from behind the arc. The Purple Eagles were down 37-34 with 13:43 remaining before Marist went on a 23-3 run in the last 11 minutes. Niagara forced Marist to a season-low 29.8 percent (17-for-57) from the field.