Final Countdown
The Niagara Purple Eagles will try to make one final push up the MAAC standings when they open the final weekend of the 2013-14 regular season with a matchup against the Rider Broncs at 7:00 p.m. on Friday night in the Gallagher Center.
 
Rider (13-13; 9-8 MAAC) won the first game of the season series 82-72 on Feb. 9 despite a strong second-half push from Niagara (8-18; 7-11 MAAC). The duo of Chanel Johnson and Victoria Rampado led the team back from a 37-30 halftime deficit to within a point in the final minutes with 12 and 14 points, respectively. A 12-4 run got things rolling and brought the Purple Eagles to within four, 65-61. NU continued to chip away and finally got within one point when Rampado hit a pair of free throws and took a charge in the ensuing Broncs possession to get the ball back before Johnson was sent to the free-throw line where she cut the deficit to 70-69. Rampado hit another free throw to again cut the deficit to 72-71 with 2:06 left. That was as close as the Purple and White could get as they were forced to foul and the Broncs took advantage of their trips to the charity stripe.
    
Rampado led the team with 18 points and 10 rebounds for her first double-double and Johnson scored 16 points despite battling foul trouble.
    
That game on Feb. 9 was the third game in the recent stretch where Rampado has scored at least 17 points in five of the last seven games. She also has scored over 20 points in two of the last four contests.
    
These two teams are separated by two games in the standings. Rider has split its last two games, handed Iona its first conference loss of the season in overtime, 92-90, and currently occupy fifth place. Niagara has also split its last two games and is in a tie for seventh.
    
MyNeshia McKenzie is the player to watch for the Broncs. The senior is averaging a double-double with 19.6 ppg and 11.2 rebounds per game, both team-highs. There is a sharp drop-off to second place in each category. Mikal Johnson is second on the team with 10.7 ppg and Marritta Gillcrease is averaging 5.2 rpg.
 
How To Tune In
• Purple Eagle fans will be able to follow all of Friday's action on PurpleEagles.com. There will be a live video broadcast with announcers Bob Vail and Nick Accordino. Fans will also be able to follow along with live stats.
 
Against the Broncs (Niagara leads 22-16)
• The Purple Eagles dropped the first game between these teams this season 82-72 back on Feb. 9. They went a perfect 3-0 against the Broncs last season. NU swept the series, winning the first game at home, 62-58, and the tilt on the road, 64-59, before topping the Broncs in the MAAC Tournament Semifinals, 59-54.
 
Over The Last Five
• Four players have shot over 40.0 percent over the last five contests.
• Victoria Rampado is an even 50.0 percent (34-for-68) from the field and leads the team with 16.8 ppg. She also narrowly misses out on averaging a double-double with 9.2 rpg.
• Chanel Johnson is second on the team in scoring with 15.4 ppg and is third with a 43.6 percent (24-for-55) effort from the floor.
• Meghan McGuinness is shooting 42.9 percent from the field, but has hit a whopping 47.1 percent (13-for-28) from three-point range on the way to 13.2 ppg.
• New starter Taylor McKay is at 46.4 percent (13-for-28) and has contributed 8.3 ppg.
 
Staying Out Of Trouble
• Chanel Johnson finished the last game against Rider (2/9) with 14 points, 12 of which came in the second half. The senior picked up two fouls early and only played six minutes in the opening half.
 
#TipOffAtTaps
• NU is 2-2 in its last four games played at home in the Gallagher Center.
• In those games, it has outshot its opponents 40.7 percent to 38.4 percent and has a positive rebounding margin at +4.5 (154-136).