|
Liz Flooks
|
Close Encounters of the Basketball Kind
The fifth-seeded Niagara Purple Eagles begin their quest for MAAC Tournament glory against the No. 4 Manhattan Jaspers in a quarterfinal matchup on Friday, March 5 at 3:30 p.m. from the Times Union Center in Albany, N.Y.
Niagara and Manhattan have played in some memorable games over the past three seasons, including two buzzer-beaters. In the last meeting, the Jaspers snapped the Purple Eagles’ five-game winning streak on a buzzer-beater, 55-53, on Feb. 13 at Draddy Gymnasium.
The winner of that game was for third place at the time; the winner on Friday will advance to the semifinals, a place where Niagara has not been since 2005. The 2004-05 season was the last time the Purple Eagles earned a first round bye and defeated Rider 69-46 as the third seed.
Ready for Action
s The Purple Eagles are 7-21 all-time in the MAAC Tournament and are 0-1 versus the Jaspers in the tournament.
s Niagara’s 12 wins are the most under Kendra Faustin and the most since the 2006-07 season.
s The Purple Eagles finished the MAAC regular season with .500 or higher record for the first time the 2004-05 season (11-7; .611).
s Junior Liz Flooks was named to the All-MAAC Second Team. Flooks was named to the All-MAAC Third Team last season.
s Freshman Kayla Stroman is a candidate for MAAC Rookie of the Year after being named to the All-Rookie Team. She is third in the MAAC with 4.4 assists per game.
s Niagara and Manhattan rank in the top two in the conference in turnover margin.
s Senior Rachele Folino had a season-high 25 points and career-high 14 rebounds en route to her second career double-double in the last meeting with Manhattan.
Niagara At The MAACs
Niagara is 7-21 playing in the MAAC Tournament since playing LaSalle in its first-ever MAAC Tournament game on March 7, 1990. Last season, the Purple Eagles picked up its first win in the tournament since 2006 after dispatching Rider, 71-67.
|
Opponent |
W-L |
|
Canisius |
0-3 |
|
Fairfield |
2-2 |
|
Iona |
0-1 |
|
LaSalle |
0-1 |
|
Manhattan |
0-1 |
|
Marist |
1-0 |
|
Loyola |
0-3 |
|
Rider |
2-0 |
|
Saint Peter’s |
1-6 |
|
Siena |
1-3 |
|
Total |
7-21 |
Flooks, Stroman Named to MAAC Teams
Junior forward Liz Flooks and freshman Kayla Stroman have been named to the All-MAAC Teams for their outstanding play this season. Flooks, who leads the team in scoring, was selected to the All-MAAC Second Team. Flooks is shooting 40 percent from behind the arc, which is second in the MAAC; she was ranked in the top 12 in the nation for two months (Dec.-Jan.). This is the third-straight season Flooks has earned an All-MAAC award (All-Rookie Team and All-Third Team).
Stroman was named to the All-Rookie Team. She is third in the third in scoring and her 4.4 assists per game leads the team and are third in the conference. A MAAC Rookie of the Week winner on three occasions, she is among five candidates for 2010 Rookie of the Year.
Last Time Out...
NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. - The Niagara women’s basketball team was denied a senior day win in a tightly contested game against the Saint Peter’s Peahens, 63-59, on Sunday from the Gallagher Center.
Heating Up At The Line
Niagara is shooting 91.0 percent (20-for-22) in the last three games. The Purple Eagles were 9-for-9 against Loyola and Farifield and was 11-for-13 versus Saint Peter’s.
Manhattan Jaspers (15-14, 10-8 MAAC)
The fourth-seeded Manhattan Jaspers have three players scoring in double-figures, including All-MAAC First Team member Michelle Pacheco (15.3 ppg) and All-MAAC Second Team selection Lindsey Loutsenhizer (15.6 ppg). The Jaspers lead the MAAC in steals and turnover margin while ranking third in scoring and second in field goal percentage.
Against the Jaspers (Manhattan Leads 22-20)
Niagara trails 22-20 in a closely contested series. The Purple Eagles have lost four-straight after sweeping the home-and-home series during the 2007-08 season. Niagara lost in its only MAAC Tournament meeting during the 2007 edition.
Last Meeting - February 13, 2010
Niagara 53, Manhattan 55
RIVERDALE, N.Y. – The Niagara women’s basketball team had its five-game win streak snapped at Manhattan on a buzzer beater, 55-53, on Saturday from the Draddy Gymnasium. Senior Rachele Folino had a double-double with a season-high 25 points and career-high 14 rebounds.
