The Purple Eagles start a season-ending four-game homestand against the Fairfield Stags at the Gallagher Center on Friday.
NU will try to improve on its 2-3 home record in conference play against a Fairfield team that is 4-2 on the road against MAAC opponents.
Free Friday
Tickets for all Friday games are free for the public.
How To Tune In
Fans can enjoy the live video streaming on Purple Eagles All-Access with announcer Dave Universal. Fans can also follow live stats on PurpleEagles.com
Last Time Out...
NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. – The Niagara women’s basketball team controlled play throughout Sunday’s matchup and shot close to 60 percent from the floor on its way to a 68-55 victory for its first win against Iona in 14 contests.
The Purple Eagles (10-16, 7-7 MAAC) took a 34-29 lead over the Gaels (10-14, 6-7 MAAC) into halftime. Niagara surrendered the lead only twice halfway through the opening half; each time Iona took a one-point lead freshman, Meghan McGuinness hit a three-pointer to put Niagara back in front.
Niagara extended the lead to 49-32 thanks to a 17-6 run to begin the half. The Gaels continued to make shots but the Purple Eagles kept them at bay and came away winning the second game of its final road-trip of the season, 68-55.
On The Court: Fairfield Stags (18-7, 11-3 MAAC)
Fairfield finds itself two games out of the top spot in the MAAC and has dropped its last two games in a row against Marist and Loyola. Before dropping both games last week, Fairfield was on a seven game winning streak and had won nine of its last 10 games.
The Stags are led by senior Taryn Johnson. The Massachusetts native is first on the team in points per game, averaging 13 points per contest, and rebounds per game, pulling in 8.1 boards a night. The forward is shooting over 50 percent from the floor this season.
Fellow senior Desiree Pina is second on the team averaging 11.4 points per game, 3.7 rebounds per game, and dishing out 3.5 assists per game.
Ending The Year At Home
Niagara wraps up the 2011-12 season with a four game homestand against Fairfield, Marist, Siena, and Manhattan. The last time the Purple Eagles ended the season with at least four games at home was the 1995-96 season where it went 3-2 in a five game stretch with wins against Iona, Loyola, and Siena.
Put It On The Board
Over the last five games against Loyola, Saint Peter’s, Canisius, Manhattan, and Iona the Purple Eagles have seen their points per game increase 4.6 points per night (up to 57.6) while opponents are scoring 3.6 points per game less over that same span.
Heating Up....
Niagara has seen increases in both field goal percentage and three-point field goal percentage over the last five games. Niagara has shot 41.4 percent from the floor as of late and bumped its accuracy from beyond the arc by almost 11 percent, now shooting 44.7 percent from three-point range.
