NU Out to Top Champs

Niagara continues its in-state road trip to start MAAC play with a Tuesday night showdown against the Marist Red Foxes. Tonight's game will be aired live on Time Warner Cable Buffalo on channel 13.

The Purple Eagles dropped their conference opener at Siena on Sunday and will look to earn their first MAAC win of the season. A victory over the Red Foxes will snap their 10-game skid versus the six-time defending MAAC regular season champions and four-time defending MAAC Tournament champions.

NU has one of the most prolific 3-point shooting combos in the nation. Senior Jennifer McNamee is tied for first in the MAAC and 38th in the nation with 2.7 3-pointers made per game; she went 3-for-6 in her last game. Junior forward Liz Flooks leads the MAAC in 3-point field goal percentage (51.0) and moved up to seventh in the nation.

Ready for Action

s Liz Flooks (14.5) and Jennifer McNamee (13.9) are the top two scorers on the team and rank in the top 10 in the conference. McNamee is tied for first in the MAAC with 2.7 3-point field goals, while Flooks is first in the conference and seventh in the nation with a 51.0 3-point field goal percentage.

s Liz Flooks was named MAAC Player of the Week on Dec. 21 after scoring a career-high 27 points on 11-for-14 shooting and 5-for-6 from behind the arc in the win over Akron; the 11 field goals and five 3-pointers were also career-highs.

s McNamee is 23 points away from becoming the 20th member of the 1,000 point club. She will join current assistant coach Katie Murphy (1,060), among others.

s The Purple Eagles wrapped up its non-conference schedule with an impressive 71-60 win over the Akron Zips on Dec. 20 at the Gallagher Center.

s The Purple Eagles are third in the MAAC in points per game (61.3) and second in 3-point field goal percentage (35.2).

s Marist has won the last 10 meetings in the series to take a 14-12 series lead.

Long Distance Call

The Purple Eagles love the long ball and have been dialing up long distance shots all season. Two players, in particular, have been very successful behind the arc. Liz Flooks set a career-high with five 3-pointers on six attempts versus Akron. Her 51.0 percentage is a MAAC best and places her seventh in the nation. Jennifer McNamee is tied for second in the MAAC and 38th in the nation with 2.7 3-pointers.

Flooks Claims MAAC POW

Niagara had a player win the MAAC Player of the Week award for the first time in three seasons, thanks to a career-high day by junior forward Liz Flooks. Flooks dropped career-highs in points (27), field goals made (11) and 3-pointers (5) in Niagara’s 71-60 win over Akron on Dec. 20 in NU’s lone game of the week. The next day, the MAAC honored Flooks by naming her MAAC Player of the Week. Flooks became the first Purple Eagles to win the MAC POW award since Shaunna Ambrose earned her third MAC POW of the season on Feb. 26, 2007.

On the Court

Marist Red Foxes (9-4, 1-0 MAAC)

Marist crushed Canisius in its MAAC opener on Sunday to extend its overall winning streak to five games. The Red Foxes are led by two-time reigning MAAC Player of the Year senior forward Rachele Fitz. She leads the MAAC with 19.2 ppg and a 60.5 field goal percentage. Guards Erica Allenspach and Corille Yarde also averages in double-figures and each have won one MAAC Player of the Week. Marist leads the MAAC in scoring offense, scoring margin, free throw percentage, field goal percentage and defensive field goal percentage.

Against the Red Foxes (Marist leads 14-12)

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 10-straight games.

Last Meeting - January 9, 2009

Niagara 51, No. 25 Marist 98

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. – Niagara fell to the 25th-ranked Marist Red Foxes 98-51 in its first conference road game of the season. Jennifer McNamee and Liz Flooks both scored in double-figures for the Purple and White