Niagara Purple Eagles (1-23, 0-13 MAAC) vs. Loyola Greyhounds (8-15, 3-10 MAAC)

Friday, February 13 at 5:00 P.M. ET

TV: ESPNU play-by-play-Dean Darling, color commentary-Mika Ryan

Live Stats: Gametracker

The Tip-Off

After an exciting and thrilling double overtime setback at Fairfield, the Niagara Purple Eagles are back on the road to face the Loyola Greyhounds for the first time this season. The match-up in Baltimore will be televised lived on ESPNU at 5 p.m. on Friday afternoon.

Start The Clock

-  Niagara played in its first-ever double overtime game on Feb. 8 at Fairfield (L, 66-65).

-  Niagara’s 95.2 (20-for-21) free throw pct. is the 15th best pct. in a game this season (min. 15 att.)(Feb. 8).

-  The Purple Eagles’ strength of schedule (SOS) of 126th is second in the MAAC (Loyola is first).

-  Liz Flooks is 32nd in the nation in free throw percentage (84.8 percent).

-  Liz Flooks and Jennifer McNamee rank 3rd and 7th, respectively, in the MAAC in free throw pct.

-  Flooks (13.4 ppg) ranks eighth in scoring in MAAC games only.

-  McNamee, leading scorer, has missed the last four games due to injury.

-  The Purple Eagles are 0-3 on ESPNU.

Close, but No Cigar

Niagara played its most competitive and closest game this season against one of the best teams in the MAAC on Feb. 8. Niagara fell 66-65 in double overtime at the Fairfield Stags (16-8, 11-2 MAAC). The Purple Eagles took a 26-24 halftime lead for only the second time this season, and twice made last second shots to send the game into overtime(s). Freshman guard Ali Morris made a running layup with three seconds left in regulation to tie the game at 52-52. Sophomore forward Liz Flooks made a jumper with 25 seconds left in the first overtime to send the game into double overtime at 60-60. Niagara shot 95.2 percent (20-for-21) at the free-throw line, including making 20-straight, which ranks as the 15th best percentage in a game this season.

NU on ESPNU

The Purple and White will look to pick up their first win on ESPNU this Friday. Niagara is 0-3 on

ESPNU since ESPN began covering MAAC women’s basketball during the 2005-06 season. The Purple Eagles fell 71-54 against Canisius on Jan. 17, 2006, lost 81-70 versus Fairfield on Jan. 26, 2007 and lost again to Canisius 63-57 on Jan. 18, 2008. Today’s game, like the prior three, have all been on the road.

On the Court

Loyola Greyhounds (8-15, 3-10 MAAC)

Loyola has lost 10 of its last 11 games, including nine-straight. The Greyhounds recent slide is due to their defense; Loyola ranks last in the MAAC in rebounding margin (-10.4 rpg) and steals (6.7 spg). Loyola is doing well at the free-throw line, shooting 71.2 percent (third in the MAAC). Senior Siobhan Prior leads the team with 12.5 ppg and ranks 11th in the conference. Junior forward Kailtin Grant averages 10.7 ppg and her 7.8 rpb is fifth in the MAAC.

Last Meeting - February 22, 2008, Loyola 63 - Niagara 73

NIAGARA UNIV, N.Y. – The Niagara University Purple Eagle women’s basketball team was powered by then-senior Sarah Wilson’s double-double in a 73-63 victory over the Loyola Greyhounds at the Gallagher Center.

Against the Greyhounds (Greyhounds lead 27-12)

Niagara topped the Greyhounds, 73-63, in the teams’ last meeting on Feb. 22, 2008 to break a six-game skid. The Purple Ealges have struggled to get wins against the Greyhounds in the series that began on Feb. 10, 1990; Niagara won three of four meetings from Feb. 2003 - Dec. 2004. Niagara has not won in Baltimore since Feb. 23, 1992 (3-13, won the first three games).