Niagara Purple Eagles (2-26, 1-16 MAAC) vs. Canisius Golden Griffins (21-7, 13-4 MAAC)

Saturday, February 28 at 2:00 P.M. ET

TV: Time Warner SportsNet (Buffalo/Niagara Falls)

Live Audio: Dave Universal (Yahoo!Sports)

Live Stats: GoGriffs.com

The Tip-Off

Fresh off of an emotional senior day win last weekend, the Niagara Purple Eagles will face archrival Canisius in its regular season finale on Saturday afternoon. The Purple Eagles shot a season-best 56.1 percent from the field in the teams’ first meeting in January.

Start The Clock

-  Niagara snapped its 24-game losing streak with a 70-65 win versus Loyola on Senior Day.

-  Kristina Walton recorded her third career double-double with a career-high 22 points versus Loyola.

-  The Purple Eagles are 69-82 versus Big 4 rivals (Buffalo, Canisius, St. Bonaventure).

-  Liz Flooks is 21st in the nation in free throw percentage (85.7 percent).

-  Liz Flooks and Rachele Folino are tied for 2nd in free throw pct in MAAC games only.

-  Folino has made 14-straight free throws and 27 out of the last 28.

-  Flooks (13.2 ppg) ranks eighth in scoring in MAAC games only.

-  Niagara’s 95.2 (20-for-21) free throw pct. is the 17th best pct. in a game this season (Feb. 8).

-  McNamee, the team’s leading scorer, has missed the last seven games due to injury.

Seniors Help Break Skid

The 2008-09 senior class ended their career at the Gallagher Center with a 70-65 win over Loyola to snap a 24-game losing streak for the Purple and White. Erika Harris, Kayleigh Scannell and Kristina Walton played a major role in breaking the longest losing streak in school history. Walton scored a career-high 22 points, breaking her previous high of 14 points in the first half with 16 at halftime. The Cleveland native brought down 11 rebounds for her third career double-double. Harris had another stellar game at the guard position with 10 points and Scannell had seven points and six rebounds. The seniors combined for 39 of the 70 points for Niagara.

On the Court

Canisius Golden Griffins (21-7, 13-4 MAAC)

Canisius is 12-3 since the last meeting between the Purple Eagles. The Golden Griffins are fighting for the number two seed with the Fairfield Stags and are one game ahead of them entering the final weekend of action. Canisius has been proficient on offense this season. The Golden Griffins are second in the MAAC in scoring (65.1 ppg), scoring margin (+6.6), free throw percentage (73.9) and are first in 3-point field goal percentage (37.3) and 3-point field goals per game (7.5). Senior forward Marie Warner leads the team and is second in the MAAC with 16.5 points per game. Canisius has the top two 3-point percentage shooters in the conference Micayla Drysdale and Warner. 

Last Meeting - January 4, 2009, Canisius 85 - Niagara 72

NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – Niagara and Canisius games are always emotional and intense; and last month’s edition of the Battle of the Bridge series was no different. Jennifer McNamee scored a career-high 28 points, but the Golden Griffins pulled away late for an 85-72 win on Sunday afternoon at the Gallagher Center. 

Against the Golden Griffins (Golden Griffins lead 42-29)

The Golden Griffins are Niagara’s chief rival; the 71 meetings are the most against any team. The series has been tightly contested with the Purple and White and Golden Griffins splitting the last six meetings.  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. 

Against Big Four Rivals

Niagara is 69-82 versus Big Four foes Buffalo, Canisius and St. Bonaventure. Niagara fell at the Buffalo Bulls, 87-62, on Nov. 25, lost to St. Bonaventure on Dec. 17 and lost an intense game to Canisius on Jan. 4. NU is 22-30 against St. Bonaventure and 29-42 versus Canisius. The Purple Eagles entered the season having done well as of late against SBU and Canisius; Niagara has won three of the last five games against both teams. 

Gaining Ground Nationally

Liz Flooks’ smooth shooting touch had led to a top 25 ranking in the nation. Flooks’ 85.7 free throw percentage ranks 21st in the nation. Flooks had been ranked as high as 15th this season. She also leads the team and is second in the MAAC, four 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.