Strive For Five
The Purple Eagles head into Sunday's game against the Saint Peter's Peacocks having finally been rewarded for their improved play of late.
    
Niagara (4-10; 2-3 MAAC) earned its first road win of the 2013-14 season on Friday thanks to a combination of upper-class leadership taking the reins and young players settling into their new roles.

In Friday's 76-72 win over Siena, Chanel Johnson only played 20 minutes, but provided a spark in the second half by scoring six-consecutive points for the Purple Eagles. Meghan McGuinness hit clutch three pointers late in the game and hit all of her free throws in the final minute on her way to a career and game-high 29 points.
    
Taylor McKay and Sam Lapszynski led the younger players.  McKay played a career-high 29 minutes, scored 11 points, and played strong defense when the team needed it most.  Lapszynksi set or tied several career-highs including her eight rebounds, which also led the team, and her 27 minutes on the court. 
    
Saint Peter's (2-12; 1-4 MAAC) has dropped both games after last Friday's 78-46 loss at the Gallagher Center to extend its losing streak to four games.  In the last three games the Peacocks have not been able to ellipse the 50-point barrier; they lost to Canisius 48-47 and to Rider 68-40 after the 46-point outing versus the Purple Eagles.  Kaydine Bent and Aziza May lead the way in scoring with 11.4 ppg and 10.1 ppg, respectively.  As a team the Peacocks average 52.7 ppg but give up 66.9 ppg.
    
When these two teams met a little over a week ago, it was strong defense and depth that pushed the Purple Eagles to victory.  They held SPU to just 31.5 percent from the floor, compared to their own 53.3 percent clip, which included holding the Peacocks to a 0-for-10 showing from beyond the arc in the second half.  NU's depth showed with the bench contributing 32 points to the team's total 78 while SPU was able to muster 16 points from its reserves.
    
A win on Sunday would stretch the Purple Eagles' win streak against Saint Peter's to six games and give them the season sweep in each of the last three seasons.
 
How To Tune In
•    Purple Eagle fans can follow all of Sunday's action via PurpleEagles.com.
 
Against the Peacocks (Saint Peter's leads 42-16)
•   The Purple Eagles have swept the last two season series against the Peacocks for four-consecutive wins.  Before this most recent string of success, NU dropped both contests in the 2010-11 season after splitting both games in 2009-10.
 
Back To Jersey City
•  The last time these teams met in Jersey City, N.J., the Purple Eagles came away with a 54-46 victory. 
•  NU kept Spaint Peter's to 21.4 percent from the floor as the hosts went 15-for-70 after apparently attempting to set a record for most field goal attempts in a game. 
•  Meghan McGuinness went 3-for-7 from beyond the arc and 5-for-6 from the charity stripe on her way to a 16-point afternoon. 
 
It Was That Kind Of NIght
•  Several Purple Eagles set records in Friday evening's 76-72 win over Siena.
•  Meghan McGuinness set a career mark with 29 points.
•  Sam Lapszynski set marks in rebounds (eight), assists (four), blocks (two), and minutes (27).
•  Taylor McKay tied a career-best with 11 points and five field goals made and set a new high in minutes with 29.  
 
You Look Familiar
•  Sunday's matchup will be the second of two meetings in nine days the Purple Eagles will have with the Peacocks.
•  This will be the first of three times NU will face an opponent in two-consecutive weekends.  The other two are against Marist (1/17 & 1/25) and Canisius (1/29 & 2/7).