NU Looks For Season Sweep

Niagara travels across the Grand Island Bridges to face archrival Canisius on Friday night to continue its season-long four-game road trip. The Purple Eagles are 8-2 in their last 10 games.

 The Purple Eagles topped the Golden Griffins in the last meeting in front of a sold out crowd at the Gallagher Center in the midst of their five-game winning streak. Niagara held its rival to its lowest point total in the series in 32 years en route to snapping its four-game skid against Canisius.

Niagara now visits a Canisius team that has lost three of its last four games and the Purple Eagles look for their first regular season sweep of the Golden Griffins since the 2006-07 season. 

Ready for Action

s Niagara defeated Saint Peter’s, 64-58, in its last game to move back into a third place tie with Manhattan.

s Niagara has won eight of its last 10 games for its best run since the 2004-05 season (won 10 out of 11 games).

s Niagara’s 11 wins are the most under Kendra Faustin and the most since the 2006-07 season.

s The Purple Eagles’ 8-6 conference record is their best record through 14 games since going 8-6 in the 2004-05 season.

s Senior Rachele Folino recorded her second career double-double and first of the season with a season-high 25 points and career-high 14 rebounds against Manhattan on Feb. 13. Folino is averaging 17.3 ppg and 9.0 rpg in the last three games.

s Freshman Jessica Flamm scored a career-high 13 points in the win over SPC.

s Freshman Kayla Stroman is third in the MAAC with 4.4 assists. 

s NU has forced at least 20 turnovers in five of its last seven games.

On the Court

Canisius Golden Griffins (10-15, 5-9 MAAC)

Canisius has lost three of its last four games after losing to Niagara on Feb. 3. The Golden Griffins are led by guard Brittane Russel, who leads the team with 13.1 ppg and is first in the MAAC in steals ppg (3.0).  Elli Radke is the other player to average double-figures (11.1 ppg).

Against the Golden Griffins (Canisius leads 44-30)

The Golden Griffins are Niagara’s chief rival; the 74 meetings are the most against any team. The Purple Eagles snapped their four-game skid against Canisius with a 52-49 win on Feb. 3 in front of a soldout Gallagher Center crowd.

Last Meeting - February 3, 2010

Canisius 49, Niagara 52

NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. - The Niagara women’s basketball team defeated its archrivals, the Canisius Golden Griffins, 52-49, in front of a soldout crowd at the Gallagher Center.