Coach Faustin Starts Third Season
The Niagara women¡¦s basketball team tips-off the 2009-10 season versus Big Four Rival the Buffalo Bulls on Friday night from the legendary Gallagher Center.  NU leads the all-time series with  UB, 18-10.

Niagara brings back the core of last season team that gained valuable game experience. Seniors Rachele Folino, Jaclyn Konieczka and Jennifer McNamee are the leaders on  and off the court. Junior forward Liz Flooks, who was named to the Preseason MAAC All-Third Team, was the second leading scorer last season. The sophomore trio of Grace Cunningham, Ali Morris and Meghan Waterman all played significant minutes last season which would only help their development and growth. 

Ready for Action

- Niagara begins its 36th season of women¡¦s basketball at the Gallagher Center for the 14th time. NU is 16-19 in season openers and is 21-13 in home openers, including winning five out of the last six. 

- Head coach Kendra Faustin begins her third season at the helm. Assistant coach and former NU standout Katie Murphy also returns for her third season. Usha Gilmore (Rutgers '00) and Brittany Holterman (Dayton '09) were added to the staff this season. 

- Liz Flooks was named to the Preseason MAAC All-Third Team. Flooks earned All-Third Team last season.

- The Purple Eagles return eight players from last season team. NU returns three of the top four in points per game, free throw percentage, 3-point percentage, assists and steals.

- Niagara will play a Big Four (Buffalo, Canisius, St. Bonaventure) rival to open the season for the fourth time in program history. NU played UB in one of those games and came away with a 66-61 victory on Nov. 20, 1999.

Opening Day Record

Niagara is 16-19 all-time on opening day. The Purple Eagles have won their previous two openers both against the Colgate Raiders 76-62 on November 10, 2006 and 78-39 on November 10, 2007 before losing at Big Ten power Michigan State last season. 

Big Four In Curtain Raiser

Niagara has faced a Big Four rival (Buffalo, Canisius, St. Bonaventure) to start a season on three occasions with the last time in the 1999-00 season. The Purple Eagles have played the Bulls once and the Bonnies twice. NU is 1-1 versus SBU and defeated UB, 66-61, to start the 1999-00 season.

Who's Back/New

The core of last season¡¦s team has returned and it brings with them harden game experience. The Purple Eagles return three of the top leaders in points per game, free throw percentage, 3-point field goal percentage, assists and steals. Jennifer McNamee, the team¡¦s leading scorer with 12.1 ppg, is now a senior and will look to keep that great shooting touch. Junior forward Liz Flooks is NU¡¦s most versatile player and her performance last season earned her MAAC All-Third Team honors and 2009-10 Preseason MAAC All-Third Team. NU welcomes three freshmen to the team, guard Kayla Stroman (Syracuse, N.Y.), forward Jessica Flamm (Orefield, Pa.) and center Megan White.

On the Court

Buffalo Bulls (0-0)

Buffalo returns 10 players from last season¡¦s 8-24 squad. The Bulls will be pace by All-MAC junior forward Kourtney Brown and junior forward Jessica Fortman who were the top two leading scorers and rebounders.

Against the Bulls (Niagara leads 18-10)

The Purple Eagles have fair well against the Bulls in a series that started in Niagara¡¦s inaugural season of 1974-75. Niagara won 14-straight games from 1976 to 1993 in the rivalry, but Buffalo has won the last four games.

Last Meeting - November 28, 2008,

Niagara 62, Buffalo 87

BUFFALO, N.Y. ¡V Niagara fell to Big Four rival, the Buffalo Bulls, 87-62 at Alumni Arena.  Jennifer McNamee led the Purple Eagles (1-3) with 21 points and senior Erika Harris grabbed a double-double.

Against the MAC

Niagara has only played five schools from the present-day Mid-American Conference (MAC). The Purple Eagles are 25-25 versus Akron, Buffalo, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan and Toledo, but majority of those games have come against Buffalo (28 meetings) and Akron (14 games). Niagara lost to Akron 82-55 in 2007 and the last time the Purple Eagles have played a team other than Akron or Buffalo was Eastern Michigan on Nov. 27, 2004.

Against Big Four Rivals

Niagara is 69-85 versus Big Four foes Buffalo, Canisius and St. Bonaventure. NU is 22-30 against St. Bonaventure and 29-44 versus Canisius.