Rematch With Rival

The Niagara Purple Eagles will cross the Grand Island Bridges for a rivalry contest against the Canisius Golden Griffins on Thursday at 7 p.m from the Koessler Athletic Center.

In the first Battle of the Bridge meeting on Feb. 12, Niagara was unable to sustain a second half rally in a 56-49 setback at the Gallagher Center. Liz Flooks had her second career double-double with game-highs of 24 points and 10 rebounds, while tying a career-high with five 3-pointers.

Ready for Action

s Niagara fell to the Iona Gaels in its final home game last Sunday. The Purple Eagles concluded their home schedule winless for the first-time ever.

s On Feb. 18, the Purple Eagles lost 79-73 to the Rider Broncs in both programs’ first-ever triple-overtime game.

s Grace Cunningham set a program in minutes played in the triple-overtime game. Cunningham played the entire game totaling 55 minutes. She also had career-highs in points, rebounds and assists.

s The Purple Eagles edged the Golden Griffins, 49-46, in the last season’s meeting at Canisius.

s Liz Flooks ranks fifth place all-time in 3-pointers and 13th in points at Niagara.

s Flooks has made 18 straight free throws. Her last miss was against Loyola (Ill.) on Dec. 5.

s Junior Meghan Waterman is fourth in the MAAC in steals per game and 13th in assists per game. Waterman leads the team in minutes played and has started in 53 straight games.

s The starting backcourt of Kayla Stroman and Ali Morris have been ruled out for the season due to injury since January. 

Last Time Out...

NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – The Niagara women’s basketball team fell in its final home game of the season versus the Iona Gaels, 69-38, on Sunday.

Let’s Play Three?

Niagara was edged by Rider, 79-73, on Feb. 18 in both programs’ first-ever triple overtime game.  It was the second triple-overtime game in MAAC history: Iona defeated Fairfield 87-78 on Feb. 8, 2008. Junior guard Grace Cunningham played the entire 55 minutes which set a program record in minutes played.

Battle of the Bridge

The Battle of the Bridge, the all-sports competition between cross-town rivals Niagara University and Canisius College, enters its fifth season in 2010-11. After Niagara claimed the inaugural competition, Canisius has won the series the next two years, before Niagara claimed the Canal Cup at the end of the 2009-10 season.

Points are awarded to the winner of regular-season contests, except for cross country, golf and swimming and diving, which will be determined by MAAC Championship standings. The Canal Cup will be awarded to the victor each year.

The name of the series is in reference to the Grand Island Bridge, which each team crosses when traveling to the other’s campus. The name of the trophy is in reference to the Erie Canal, which intersects Niagara County, where Niagara is located, and Erie County, where Canisius is located.

Niagara is currently leading this season’s series, 12-11, and needs 4.5 points to retain the Canal Cup. The winner of the basketball game will receive two points

On The Court

Canisius Golden Griffins (9-18, 5-11 MAAC)  

Canisius closes out its home schedule against Niagara on Thursday. The Golden Griffins, who are seventh in the conference, are 1-2 since defeating the Purple Eagles on Feb. 12. Senior Micayla Drysdale is the lone senior starter and is averaging 8.4 ppg. Freshman forward Jamie Ruttle leads the team with 9.4 ppg.

Against the Golden Griffins (Canisius leads 45-31)

The Golden Griffins are Niagara’s chief rival; the 76 meetings are the most against any team. The Purple Eagles swept last season’s series with a pair of three-point victories for the first time since the 2006-07 season. Niagara rallied from a seven-point halftime deficit to defeat Canisius, 49-46, in last season’s meeting at the KAC.

Last Meeting - February 12, 2011

Niagara 49, Canisius 56

NIAGARA UNIV, N.Y. –  In the first Battle of the Bridge meeting between the teams this season, the Niagara women’s basketball team could not sustain a second half rally in a 56-49 defeat to the Canisius Golden Griffins in the annual WBCA Pink Zone game on Saturday at the Gallagher Center.

Perfect From The Line

The Purple Eagles went 9-for-9 from the free-throw line in its home finale versus Iona on Feb. 20. It was Niagara’s highest free throw percentage this season and first time it went perfect from the line with a minimum of nine attempts since Nov. 28, 2009 at Loyola (Ill.) (11-for-11).