Thunder[Bob]cats
The Niagara Purple Eagles have a chance to get back to .500 in MAAC play and even the series against the Quinnipiac Bobcats on Saturday at 2:00 p.m.
 
This will be the first time Niagara (7-13; 5-6 MAAC) and Quinnipiac (12-9; 7-4 MAAC) will face each other in the Gallagher Center. They met for the first time ever back on Dec. 29, 2013 in a game that ultimately went to the Bobcats 84-61, but featured a 21-6 run to open the second half by the Purple Eagles that made it a two-point game, 52-50. 
    
Niagara has found a groove since opening the MAAC schedule versus the Bobcats. Since that game, NU has seen its points per game increase to 66.9 from 61.9 and, more importantly, its points allowed fall 8.5 ppg (down to 66.7 from 75.2).  As a team its shooting has spiked to 44.3 percent from the field (up from 37.9 percent) and to 40.4 percent from three-point range (up from 33.5 percent).
    
Meghan McGuinness leads the team in scoring after her 22-point night against Canisius on Wednesday. She averages 13.2 ppg with Chanel Johnson's 12.4 ppg coming in second, but the senior leads the squad with 5.9 rpg. Johnson's 8-for-8 night at the free-throw line moves her to 85.5 percent (71-for-83) on the year. The Canisius game was McGuinness' fourth 20+ point performance of the season and the fifth straight game in which Niagara outrebounded its opponent.
    
The Bobcats have found some success since the late December matchup. They have gone 5-3 with the three losses coming against two of the top-three teams in the conference. They lost to third place Fairfield twice; a 72-71 loss on Jan. 5 and a 61-52 loss on Jan. 26. The other loss came against MAAC-leading Iona, 95-86, on Jan. 10. They are led by Jasmine Martin's 14.2 ppg and Brittany McQuain's 8.9 rpg.  McQuain is also second on the team with 11.6 ppg.
    
We've covered the fact that a win on Saturday would get the Purple Eagles to an even 6-6 in conference and split the season series with MAAC-newcomer Quinnipiac, but it would also earn them sole possession of fifth place and set them a game out of Quinnipiac and fourth place.
 
 
How To Tune In
•    Purple Eagle fans can follow all of Saturday's action via PurpleEagles.com.  A live video broadcast with announcers Jim Slowey and Jim Rhods will be available on Purple Eagles All-Access.  Fans will also be able to follow along with live stats.
 
Against the Bobcats (Quinnipiac leads 1-0)
• Saturday's game will be the second time these teams face each other, but the first time they will go head-to-head in the Gallagher Center.  Quinnipiac joined the MAAC in the summer of 2013.
 
Climb The Ladder
• With Fairfield losing 68-55 to Iona on Thursday, Niagara now sits 1.5 games back of third place.  Fairfield and Quinnipiac are tied for third at 7-4.
 
From Downtown
• The Purple Eagles have two players in the top-10 in three-point field goal percentage in conference play.
• Meghan McGuinness' 46.6 percent earned her fifth in the MAAC.
• Val McQuade is ninth with 39.5 percent because this is how we do it.
 
Setting Up The Sweep
• With Wednesday's 69-60 win over Canisius, the Purple Eagles earned their first win at home over the Golden Griffns since the 2009-10 season.
• The last win at home came on Feb. 3, 2010 when Niagara opened the series with a 52-49 win over Canisius. NU also won the second game on Feb. 19, 2010 by a 49-46 final.
• Just to make the point abundantly clear, the last time NU beat Canisius at the Gallagher Center they swept the season series.
 
Cooking Up A 20-Burger
• Meghan McGuinness scored over 20 points for the fourth time this season when she put up 22 against Canisius on Wednesday.
• She scored 21 against Saint Peter's (1/12), 25 against Lehigh (11/8), and 29 against Siena (1/10).
 
Maybe Send Someone Else To The Line
• Chanel Johnson went 6-for-6 from the free-throw line in the final three minutes in Niagara's win over Canisius on Wednesday to help seal the win. 
• The senior is shooting 85.5 percent (71-for-83) from the line this season, so she's not really in the business of missing many free throws.