NU MAAC Home Opener

Niagara is back home to play the Manhattan Jaspers at Saturday at 2 p.m. for its first home game of 2010 and the MAAC season.

 The winner of Saturday’s game will take the lead in the all-time series, which is currently tied at 20-20. Niagara and Manhattan are two clubs that mirror each other. Both teams rank in the top four in points per game and turnover margin in the MAAC and in the top five in field goal percentage and steals.

The game will also feature a “changing of the guards” matchup between Manhattan’s senior point guard Michelle Pacheco and Niagara’s freshman guard sensation Kayla Stroman. Pacheco leads the conference with 5.9 assists per game, but Stroman is close on her heels in third with 4.5 assists per game. Pacheco and Stroman are third and fourth, respectively, in the MAAC in assist/turnover ratio.

Ready for Action

s Liz Flooks (15.2) and Jennifer McNamee (13.1) are the top two scorers on the team and rank in the top 10 in the conference. McNamee is tied for second in the MAAC with 2.5 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 McNamee is 20 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 Freshman guard Kayla Stroman leads the team with 4.5 assists per game and is third in the MAAC.

s The Purple Eagles are fourth in the MAAC in points per game (60.9) and second in 3-point field goal percentage (35.2).

s The Niagara and Manhattan series is tied at 20-20. The Jaspers won the last two meetings after the Purple Eagles swept the series two seasons ago.

On the Court

Manhattan Jaspers (6-7, 1-1 MAAC)

Manhattan comes to the Gallagher Center with a 1-1 record in  MAAC action after dropping a home contest against Iona in its last game. The Jaspers’ 66.0 ppg are second in the conference and their 40.4 percent free throw percentage is second in the MAAC. Manhattan leads the MAAC in steals (12.2) and turnover margin (+5.54). Manhattan features one of the best guards in the conference in senior Michelle Pacheco who is third in the league in scoring and first in assists.

Against the Jaspers (Series tied 20-20)

Manhattan swept last season’s two games to tie the all-time series at 20-20. The series has alternated in pair of wins; Niagara won the two meetings during the 2007-08 season, while Manhattan swept the 2006-07 edition.

Last Meeting - February 6, 2009

Niagara 58, Manhattan 77

RIVERDALE, N.Y. – The Niagara women’s basketball team fell to the Manhattan Lady Jaspers 77-58 on Friday night at Draddy Gymnasium. Forwards Liz Flooks and Rachele Folino scored 17 and 12 points, respectively.