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Big 4 Showdown
The Niagara Purple Eagles start their 2011-12 campaign with a tilt against the University at Buffalo Bulls on Friday at 7:05 p.m. at the legendary ‘Taps’ Gallagher Center.

The Purple Eagles welcome back Kayla Stroman after the Guard missed most of last season due to injury.  Niagara will also gain Lauren Gatto after the Center was redshirted last season after transferring from University of Illinios - Chicago.
 
How To Tune In
Fridays’s game will be broadcast live on PurpleEagles.com. Fans can listen live to all of the action, called by Dave Universal.
 
Last Time Out...
In their last meeting between these two teams (12/21/10) Niagara fell to Buffalo 58-42.  The two teams played a tight first half with the Bulls taking a three-point lead going into halftime.  UB would turn up the defensive pressure in the second and managed to pull away in the final half.
 
On The Court
Buffalo Bulls (0-0)  
UB is coming off a season that saw them stay .500, going 16-16.  The Bulls wrapped the season going 4-6 down the stretch.  The Bulls have their second highest scorer from last season, Britany Heddersson, returning to lead the way in 2011-12
 
Against the Bulls (Niagara leads 18-12)
The Purple Eagles have fair well against the Bulls in a series that started in Niagara’s inaugural season of 1974-75. Niagara won 14-straight games from 1976 to 1993 in the rivalry, but Buffalo has won the last five meetings.
 
Kayla’s Return
Kayla Stroman was one of the most durable players at arguably the most difficult position. Stroman led the MAAC in minute played before missing redshirting last season due to injury after having played in the third most minutes in the conference in the 2009-10 season.
 
In her eight games last season, Stroman averaged 12.0ppg while averageing 34 minutes of playing time.
 
The Last Time....
That the MAAC picked the Purple Eagles to fnish 10th was the 2009-10 season.  That year, Niagara would go 9-9 in conference play and finish 5th. 
 
New Faces on the Court:
Niagara has four freshman on the roster to start the 2011-12 season.  Kelly Van Leeuwen and Meghan McGuinness join the squad as rookie Guards while Gabby Baldasare and Val McQuade (both from Pittsburgh, Pa.) join the team as forwards.
 
New Faces on the Bench:
Head Coach Kendra Faustin and second-year assistant coach Corinne Jones are joind by three new faces on the coaching staff.  Mark Katarski joins the staff after three seasons as a head coach in Division III, Brittany Parker joins Niagara after teo seasons as an assitant in Division II, and Brianna Lucas climbs aboard as the Diractor of Basketball Operations after finishing her teaching degree.