Game Notes | Live Stats

Big Battle in the Little Three
Niagara keeps its road-trip going when it travels to St. Bonaventure, NY to face the Bonnies for what will be the 54th meeting between the two programs. 

Niagara enters the matchup still boasting a free-throw percentage that ranks 25th in the NCAA and second in the MAAC (75.8 percent).  It is also riding a streak of five games where it shoots noticeably better from the field in the second half, maxing out with just shy of a 26 percent improvement in Tuesday’s game versus Ohio.
 
How To Tune In
A link for to the live stats for Friday’s game can be found on PurpleEagles.com
 
Last Time Out...
A strong second half, where Niagara would shoot 52.2 percent from the floor, was not enough as the Purple Eagles dropped their first ever contest against the Ohio Bobcats, 50-40. Kayla Stroman led the team with nine points and Lauren Gatto led the team with eight rebounds.
 
On The Court: St. Bonaventure Bonnies (8-1)   
The Bonnies are ranked in the top 20 nationally in the nation in win-lost percentage with a 88.9 percent mark that is good for 17th in the NCAA; as well as being 13th in scoring defense (50.6 ppg), 11th in free-throw percentage (78.0), and fifth in turnovers per game (12.8). 
 
Against the Bonnies (SBU leads 32-22)
St. Bonaventure has had the upper hand in the series as of late, going 4-0 in the last four contests.  Niagara’s last win came in 2006-07 when the Purple Eagles scored a seven-point victory, 71-64.
 
We Meet Again...
Friday’s matchup will move SBU out of a tie with Saint Peter’s for third place on Niagara’s most played list.  St. Bonaventure is alone at third overall but is first out of all non-MAAC opponents for most games against.
 
I’ll Do It Myself...
Freshman Kelly Van Leeuwen hit a pair of threes to put together a 6-0 run to pull the Purple Eagles within five points of Ohio on Tuesday.  In the game she set career highs in points (six); field-goals and three-point field-goals made (two); and minutes played (19).
 
Setting The Bar...
Gatto has set four career-highs in her first season with the Purple Eagles.  The junior guard has set marks in points (21), rebounds (10), assists (three), and field-goals made (nine).  She has also tied career marks set with the University of Illinois-Chicago Flames in steals (two) and minutes played (33).