Live From Bethlehem, Pa.
Niagara begins the second half of non-conference play with a Saturday night tilt against the Lehigh Mountain Hawks at the Stabler Arena. 

The Purple Eagles (3-3) look to continue the success they found in the last few games when they face the Mountain Hawks (3-5); shooting near 50 percent from the floor (47.4 percent against Oakland and 50.0 percent against Kent State) and outscoring their opponents by a comined 26 points in the second half.

Lehigh enters the game with an 1-2 record at home this season.  They lost a close game to La Salle 48-48, which was followed by a double-overtime 55-50 loss to Monmouth.  On Thursday they defeatedagianst Fairfield 47-42 for their first home victory of the year.  

On The Court: Lehigh Mountain Hawks (3-5, 0-0 Patriot League)
The Mountain Hawks started the season alternating wins and losses through the first four games before dropping three in a row to fall to 2-5.  They got back in the win column with a 47-42 win over the Fairfield Stags on Thursday to bring their home record to 1-2.

Lehigh is led by freshman Kerry Kinec who is averaging a double-double through each of the team’s eight games.  The first year forward has team-highs in both points per game and rebounds per game with 13.0 and 10.0, repectively.

Against the Mountian Hawks (Niagara leads 1-0)
Saturday’s game will be the second time these two teams will meet.  Niagara won the first matchup 70-58 in a neutral-site matchup.

On The Road Again
The Purple Eagles will play four of their next five games on the road.  Starting with Lehigh, they will also face Binghamton, Buffalo, and Michigan away from the Gallagher Center.  The only home contest in this stretch is a game against Colgate on Dec. 16. 

All-Time In December
Niagara has played to a 110-123 record all time in the month of December.  The most success the program had in the 12th month of the year came between 1976-89 when it went 50-38.

Lopsided Victories
With the 82-55 win over Kent State, the Purple Eagles earned their most lopsided victory since Kendra Faustin’s first game as head coach at Niagara, a 78-39 win over Colgate.

Double-Digit Margins
Only two of Niagara’s six games have been decided by more than nine points and both were victories.  The first was the team’s 70-59 win over Oakland and the second was the team’s 82-55 win over Kent State.

Close Calls
Niagara’s first four games of the season were decided by a single-digit margin.  The team’s season opening victory over Robert Morris was by four points while the last three have been decided by two points (St. Bonaventure), five points (Bowling Green), and eight points (Bucknell).

Rebounding Is The Key
Niagara is a perfect 2-0 this season when it outrebounds its opponent.  It ourtebouned Robert Morris in the season opener, 41-33, and pulled down more boards than Kent State 43-30.

Jumping Into The Top-50
After hitting 6-of-7 chances from the free-throw line against Kent State, Kelly Van Leeuwen brought her season percentage to 93.8 percent, which places her 21st in the NCAA.  The guard joins Lauren Gatto who moved up to 31st in the country, from 52nd,  in field-goal percentage with a 57.8 percent clip.