NU Starts Crucial Homestand

Niagara is back from its three-game road trip and will embark on a five-game homestand starting this Friday, Jan. 29 versus the Siena Saints at 7 p.m.

The Purple Eagles start their five-game home stretch with a critical Friday night showdown. Niagara is 1.5 game from fourth place and two games back in the loss column from third place Siena.

Niagara and Siena played each other to start their respective conference schedule on Jan. 3 in Albany; the Saints pulled away late in the second half for the win. Niagara won two of its three games on its road trip and will not play another road game until Feb. 13 at Manhattan.

Ready for Action

s Niagara will play its next five games at the Gallagher Center. This is the longest homestand since playing five-straight home games from Jan. 21-31, 1998.  

s Jennifer McNamee became the 20th member of the 1,000 point club on Jan. 18 against Rider. McNamee scored her 1,002 on a 3-point basket on her second shot of the game. She joined current assistant coach Katie Murphy (1,060), among others.

sThe Purple Eagles won consecutive MAAC games on Jan. 16 and 18 for the first time since Jan. 2008 and the consecutive MAAC road games since Feb. 2005.

s Liz Flooks (14.6) and Jennifer McNamee (12.1) are the top two scorers on the team and rank in the top 15 in the conference. McNamee is third in the MAAC with 2.2 3-point field goals. Flooks leads the MAAC and is tied for 13th in the nation in 3-point percentage.

s Freshman guard Kayla Stroman leads the team with 4.4 assists per game and is third in the MAAC.

s Niagara trails the all-time series with Siena, 39-21.

On the Court

Siena Saints (7-10, 5-3 MAAC)

Siena visits Western New York winners of its last two games, to improve its record to 5-3 in the MAAC, and currently lies in third place. The Saints have three players scoring in double-figures, including Allie Lindemann who leads the MAAC in 3-point field goals made. Siena is first in the conference in scoring defense and defensive field goal percentage in conference games only.

Against the Saints (Siena leads 39-21)

Siena holds a 39-21 all-time advantage over Niagara since the two teams began play in 1979. The Purple Eagles’s best run in the series was a string of three-straight wins from Jan. 1999 to Feb. 2000. The Saints enter Sunday’s game boasting a five-game winning streak in the series.

Last Meeting - January 3, 2010

Niagara 49, Siena 66

LOUDONVILLE, N.Y. – In a game full of runs, the Niagara women’s basketball team was unable to mount a final rally in a 66-49 defeat against the Siena Saints in the MAAC opener for both teams on Sunday at the Alumni Recreation Center.

Welcome to the Club

Senior Jennifer McNamee has been one of the most dependable scorers in Niagara women’s basketball history. Her scoring ability has gained her access to one of the most prestigious clubs in women’s basketball. On Jan. 18, McNamee became the 20th member NU’s 1,000 point club. She scored her 1,002 point with a 3-pointer on her second shot of the game in NU’s 63-54 win over Rider. Entry into the club could be a precursor for the Hall of Fame, as 12 of the 19 1,000 point club members are in the Hall of Fame. McNamee has averaged 10.4 ppg during her career, 33.3 percent from the 3-point arc and 77 percent at the free-throw line.

Picking Up Two on the Road

In the midst of its second longest scheduled road trip, Niagara picked up consecutive MAAC road wins for the first time since Feb. 2005. The Purple Eagles defeated Fairfield and Rider on Jan. 16 and 18, respectively. The last time Niagara picked up consecutive MAAC road wins was against Iona on Feb. 11 and Rider on Feb. 13.