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Looking To Keep The Streak
The Niagara Purple Eagles enter Sunday's 1 p.m. contest against the Manhattan Jaspers undefeated at the 'Taps' Gallagher Center.

Niagara (3-3, 1-0 MAAC) is coming off a three-game winning streak with a 73-40 decision against Saint Peter's in its MAAC opener. The game started with a 9-0 run by the Purple Eagles and the team never looked back.  The first half consisted of back-and-forth buckets from each team while NU took a 42-30 halftime advantage over the Peacocks.

The Purple Eagles opened the second half with a 22-2 run that featured nine points from Victoria Rampado.  The sophomore from Niagara Falls, Ont. finished the game with nine points, three rebounds, two steals and one block. With fewer than two minutes on the clock, NU was able to build its largest lead of the game, a 37-point advantage, after a Kelyn Freedman layup. Sam Lapszynski hit a jumper in the final seconds of the game as Niagara took home the 73-40 win.

Twelve Purple Eagles scored as Sylvia Maxwell led the team with 16 points and a 7-for-8 outing from the floor along with a team-high six rebounds.  Meghan McGuinness went 3-for-5 from three-point range and finished with 11 points and two assists. Kelly Van Leeuwen continued to take care of the basketball as the senior added a team-high four assists while only committing two turnovers.

Manhattan (1-5, 0-1 MAAC) suffered its fourth straight loss on Friday night, dropping a 55-44 decision to Canisius in its MAAC opener. Junior forward Shayna Ericksen recorded her third double-double of the season against Canisius.

The Purple Eagles split last seasons' series against the Jaspers with both teams winning on the road. NU took a 71-67 overtime victory on Jan. 23, 2014, while Manhattan came away with a 64-56 win at the Gallagher Center on Feb. 15, 2014. Niagara has won four of the last six meetings between the two teams.
 
How To Tune In

• Purple Eagle fans can follow all of Sunday's action via PurpleEagles.com.  A live video broadcast will be provided through Purple Eagles All-Access with announcer Dave Universal.  Live stats will be provided as well.

 
On The Court
Manhattan Jaspers (1-5, 0-1 MAAC)

• Junior forward Shayna Ericksen leads the team with 11.5 points and 9.0 rebounds per game, as well as a .542 field goal percentage.
• Freshman guard Nyasha Irizarry is second on the team with 7.2 points per outing, while junior guard Jacqui Thompson adds 6.3 points per game and a team-best 3.5 assists per contest.

Against the Jaspers (Manhattan leads 26-25)

• The Purple Eagles won the ?rst game of last season's series 71-67 in overtime for their ?rst win in Riverdale since February 10, 2012. Niagara dropped a 64-55 meeting on Feb. 15 last season which was played in the Gallagher Center.

 
Back Home

• The last time these teams met at the 'Taps' Gallagher Center, the Purple Eagles dropped a 64-56 decision to the Jaspers. 
• Taylor McKay, who was playing in her second game after returning from an injury, hit the first of three-consecutive baskets to send the Purple Eagles on an 11-2 run to end the half down 35-27.
• McKay finished the game with 12 points. The sophomore went 6-for-10 from the field and contributed two steals.
• Manhattan was able to hit shots late and went a 7-for-7 from the free throw line after NU was forced to foul on the way to the 64-56 final.
• Meghan McGuinness scored 13 to join McKay in the double-digits while Victoria Rampado led the team with 10 rebounds.

Believe NU

• As they did this season, NU started 2011-12 with three losses.
• They would go on to tie for 4th place in the MAAC and make a MAAC Tournament semi?nal appearance.