Game Notes | Live Stats

The Purple Eagles are one win away from their first winning record in MAAC play since 2004-05 as they head into the season finale against the Manhattan Jaspers on Sunday afternoon in Draddy Gymnasium at 2 p.m.
   
A win by Niagara (14-14, 9-8 MAAC) over Manhattan (6-22, 3-14 MAAC) would put it in position to retake fourth place, with some help from Iona.  It would also give NU its second-consecutive sweep over the Jaspers to tie the program’s record for consecutive victories versus the Jaspers. 
   
The last time the Purple Eagles swept two consecutive series over the Jaspers was between 2003-05.  The second series sweep was in the 2004-05 season, which was also the last time they had a winning record in MAAC games. 
   
Shy Britton and Meghan McGuinness led the offensive effort in last week’s game against Manhattan, combining for 34 of the team’s 48 points.  McGuinness has played three games against the Jaspers and has yet to be held to single-digit points.  Last week’s 20-point effort was a career-best versus Manhattan, as was Britton’s 14 points. 
 
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Last Time Out
The Purple Eagles dropped to .500 on the season after a 51-36 loss to the Canisius Golden Griffins on Friday night in the Gallagher Center.
  
The Purple Eagles (14-14, 9-8 MAAC) got the early jump on the Griffs (11-17, 8-9 MAAC).  They held a lead throughout the first seven minutes of the game as free throws from Lauren Gatto gave the team a 13-9 lead with 12:50 left in the half.  From there the offense would go cold as the Griffs took a 27-13 lead into the break.
  
NU was disciplined in the first half as it took only three fouls and kept Canisius from the free-throw line.  The Purple Eagles defense stayed strong throughout the game, holding Canisius’ top two scorers to a combined 10 points.
  
A 7-0 run to start the second half got the Purple Eagles back in the game.  A layup from Gatto and five consecutive points from Meghan McGuinness brought the team within seven, 27-20.  That was as close as NU would get as the Griffs pulled away to a 51-36 victory.
 
On The Court: Manhattan Jaspers (6-22, 3-14 MAAC)
The Jaspers enter Sunday on a seven-game losing streak with their last win coming on February 3 at home against Canisius, 54-51. They dropped their last three home games (a 54-51 loss to Siena, a 55-50 loss to Fairfield, and a 71-64 loss to Iona on Thursday) to bring their home record to 5-10 with a 2-6 record in conference play.   
  
Manhattan is led on offense by Monica Roeder’s 12.1 ppg.  The guard also leads in three-point percentage (32.4 percent) out of players with more than two attempts.  Tori-Ann Lawrence and Allison Skrec are the other two players who average more than 8.0 ppg.  Lawrence has averaged 9.6 ppg and Skrec has 8.4 ppg.  Shayna Ericksen leads the team with 6.0 rebounds per game.
 
Against the Jaspers (Series is tied 24-24)
The Purple Eagles are have won the last two games against the Jaspers after sweeping last season’s series.  A win on Sunday would move Niagara one-win away from tying their record for consecutive victories over the Jaspers.
 
Bringing the Regular Season To A Close
 Niagara has a 5-5 record in the final game of the regular season over the last 10 years.  Over that span it has closed out the season on the road only three times and has a 1-2 record in those games.
 
Closing The Year Vs. Manhattan
 The Purple Eagles have played the Jaspers in the final game of the regular season three times since joining the MAAC in the 1988-89 season.  They have won all three of those contests, the most recent of which came last season when the Purps came away with a 56-44 victory on Feb. 26.
 
Historically Stingy Defense
The Purple Eagles have held opponents to 51 points or less in each of the last thre games.  While they have come close a few times before, the last time they accomplished this feat was when Jimmy Carter was in the White House and a year before Bruce Sprinsgteen’s “The River” hit the record store shelves.
   
You have to go all the way back to the 1979-80 season when Niagara did it in the first seven games of a 12-game winning streak.  This is the first time they have held opponents under 51 points in three-consecutive games in the shot clock era.
 
6 x 3 = 18
Meghan McGuinness went 6-for-10 from beyond the arc in last Sunday’s game against Manhattan.  It was the first time a Purple Eagle hit 6 or more three’s since Jennifer McNamee hit six against Canisius on Jan. 4, 2008.
 
Look, Let’s Make This Easy
After the loss on Friday, there are only two different scenarios for the Purple Eagles and their seeding going into the MAAC Tournament. 
     
They will finish fifth with a win, a win and a Rider win, or a loss.  If they win and Rider loses, Niagara will reclaim the fourth seed.
 
Under 40
The Purple Eagles held the Fairfield Stags to under 40 points last Friday. The last time they held an opponent to under 40 points was on November 10, 2007 when they kept Colgate to 39 points.