NU Looking To Break Skid

The Niagara Purple Eagles return home to play host to the Loyola Greyhounds on Friday for a 7 p.m. tipoff.

The Purple Eagles are coming off of two close defeats on the road to Saint Peter’s and Fairfield last week as they head into their first meeting with the Greyhounds this season. Niagara has won two of the last three meetings, including the last two home encounters.

Ready for Action

s On Jan. 23 against Fairfield, Niagara forced a season-low by an opponent in points (48), field goal percentage (29.4) and 3-point percentage (19.0)

s Niagara starts conference play 0-8 for the second time in three seasons. 

s The starting backcourt of Kayla Stroman and Ali Morris have missed a total of 12 games due to injury. Stroman, who played in 39 straight games to start her career, has not played since suffering an injury on Dec. 9 versus Hofstra.

s Liz Flooks needs nine points to move ahead of Niagara Hall of Famer Joan Thornton (‘80) for 16th place.

s Flooks is 13th in the MAAC in scoring (11.0) and sixth in 3-pointers percentage.

s Flooks is seventh all-time in 3-pointers at NU. She needs four 3-pointers to tie Chantelle Wilson (‘06) and Eva Cunningham (‘05) for fifth place.

s The Purple Eagles are fourth in the MAAC in steals, averaging 8.5 per contest.

s Freshman Shy Britton led the Purple Eagles in scoring with a career-high 16 points; 12 of the 16 points came in the second half, at Saint Peter’s.  

s Sophomore Jessica Flamm and freshman Chanel Johnson had career-high performances at Iona. Flamm had career-highs in points (17) and rebounds (8), while Johnson had career-highs with 20 points and 11 rebounds for her first career double-double.

On The Court

Loyola Greyhounds (9-10, 6-2 MAAC)  

Loyola comes into the Gallagher Center tied for second place in the conference. The Greyhounds have won three of four and are 6-2 in the conference. Junior guard Miriam McKenzie leads the Greyhounds with 14.5 ppg and 7.5 rpg in  MAAC play.  McKenzie was also last week’s MAAC player of the week.   

Against Loyola (Loyola leads 29-14)

In a series mostly dominated by Loyola, the Purple Eagles have steadied the ship lately winning three out of their last five meetings.   Niagara has not been defeated by the Greyhounds in the “Taps” Gallagher Center since February 3, 2007.

Last Meeting - February 21, 2010

Niagara 63, Loyola 71

BALTIMORE - The Niagara women’s basketball team could not sustain its halftime lead over the Loyola Greyhounds as the Purple Eagles fell 71-63 in their final regular season road game on Sunday afternoon from the Reitz Arena.