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Jaclyn Konieczka
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Niagara Battles The Champs
The fifth-seeded Niagara Purple Eagles will face the No. 1 seed and four-time defending tournament champion Marist in the 2010 Citizens Bank MAAC Tournament Semifinals on Saturday morning.
Niagara is making its first appearance in the semifinals since reaching this round in 2005 as the third seed; Niagara’s opponent Marist lost in the 2005 Final and has won the last four tournaments.
The Purple Eagles are no stranger to putting an end to streaks this season. On Jan. 31, Niagara defeated Marist 69-59 at the Gallagher Center to snap the nation’s third longest winning streak at 13 games.
Ready for Action
s Niagara defeated fourth-seeded Manhattan, 66-54, in the MAAC Tournament Quarterfinals on Friday afternoon. The win snaps Niagara’s four-game losing streak to the Jaspers and its first win over Manhattan in the MAAC Tournament (1-1)
s Niagara won three 2010 MAAC awards. Kendra Faustin won Coach of the Year, Kayla Stroman won Rookie of the Year and Ali Morris was named Sixth Man of the Year.
s Junior Liz Flooks was named to the All-MAAC Second Team.
s The Purple Eagles are 8-21 all-time in the MAAC Tournament and are 1-0 versus the Red Foxes in the tournament.
s Niagara’s 13 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 Senior Jaclyn Konieczka scored a career-high 21 points in the win over Marist.
Niagara At The MAACs
Niagara is 8-21 playing in the MAAC Tournament since playing LaSalle in its first-ever MAAC Tournament game on March 7, 1990. Niagara has won games in consecutive MAAC Tournaments for the first time since the 2005 and 2006 editions.
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Opponent |
W-L |
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Canisius |
0-3 |
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Fairfield |
2-2 |
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Iona |
0-1 |
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LaSalle |
0-1 |
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Manhattan |
1-1 |
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Marist |
1-0 |
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Loyola |
0-3 |
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Rider |
2-0 |
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Saint Peter’s |
1-6 |
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Siena |
1-3 |
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Total |
8-21 |
Purple Eagles Take Majority of Awards
Niagara’s turnaround season has caught the eyes of the MAAC and the Purple Eagles were rewarded for their performance. Niagara won three MAAC awards during the annual banquet, for its most since 2003. Kendra Faustin, who Purple Eagles won four times as many games this season as last, was named 2010 The Rock Coach of the Year. Freshman guard Kayla Stroman was named 2010 MAAC Rookie of the Year to become NU’ first ROY since 1990. Last season’s starting guard, sophomore guard Ali Morris, was selected as MAAC Sixth Player of the Year.
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.
How To Tune In
Saturday morning’s semifinal contest will air live on MSG. Dean Darling and Mika Ryan will have the call live starting at 11:30 a.m.
NU fans can listen live to all the action this postseason from “The Voice of the Purple Eagles” Todd Callen. Internet listeners can listen free through Yahoo! Sports live web-streaming.
Marist Red Foxes (24-7, 15-3 MAAC)
Marist won its 13 consecutive MAAC Tournament game after beating Canisius in the quarterfinals. The Red Foxes are led by three-time MAAC Player of the Year Rachele Fitz; she leads the conference in scoring (17.8 ppg).
Against the Red Foxes (Marist Leads 14-11)
Niagara broke its 11-game losing streak against Marist with a 69-59 win on Jan. 31. The Purple Eagles also snapped the Red Foxes’ 13-game winning streak, which was the third longest in the nation.
Last Meeting - January 31, 2010
NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. - The Niagara women’s basketball team defeated defending six-time regular season MAAC champion Marist, 69-59, to snap the nation’s third longest win streak on Sunday afternoon from the Gallagher Center. Niagara was powered by senior Jaclyn Konieczka, who scored a career and game-high 21 points.
