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Taming The Broncs
When the Purple Eagles and Rider Broncs meet on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. it will be the first time these teams go head-to-head since last season's MAAC Tournament Quarterfinals.
    
That postseason matchup was all Niagara (7-15; 5-8 MAAC) from the get-go and it won 59-54 to advance to its second-straight semifinal appearance. The Purple Eagles went on an 11-3 run on their way to a 23-13 lead. During that run they held Rider (11-11; 7-6 MAAC) scoreless for 4:23 and without a field goal for over eight minutes.
    
NU built a lead as large as 17 points in the second half before Rider was able to get its offense in gear and chipped away at the lead until it was able to get within five points, 53-48, with 2:25 remaining. Meghan McGuinness, who hit four free throws with less than two minutes left, blocked a three-point attempt and hit another set of chances from the charity stripe to seal the deal.  She finished with a team-high 15 points and nine rebounds.
    
The semifinal win capped a successful year against the Broncs for the Purple and White who won all three meetings. They won the first game in the Gallagher Center 62-58, which they followed up by winning the game in Lawrenceville 64-59.
    
These two teams are separated by two games in the standings. Rider has won its last two games, including handing Iona its first loss of the season in overtime 92-90, and occupies fifth place. Niagara has dropped its last two games after a stretch where it won two of three and is in a tie for sixth.
    
MyNeshia McKenzie is the player to watch for the Broncs. The senior is averaging a double-double with 20.0 ppg and 11.3 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 10.0 ppg and Marritta Gillcrease is averaging 5.6 rpg.
 
How To Tune In
•    Purple Eagle fans can fallow all of Sunday's action with live stats and an audio broadcast on PurpleEagles.com
 
Against the Broncs (Niagara leads 21-15)
• The Purple Eagles swept the series last season, winning the first game at home, 62-58, and the tilt on the road 64-59. The Semifinals win in the MAAC Tournament gave the them the perfect 3-0 record. They split the series in 2011-12, winning the last game to start the current four-game winning streak.
 
Winning In Lawrenceville
• Last season's 54-49 win in Lawrenceville, N.J not only gave the Purple Eagles the regular season sweep, but also got the team their first win in Alumni Gymnasium since Jan. 18, 2010.
 
Four Games Count As A Streak
• The Purple Eagles have a good opportunity to get back in the win column after two consecutive losses with their matchup against the Broncs. They have won four-consecutive games against Rider, beginning with a 69-53 win to earn a split in the 2011-12 season series. NU went on to win both regular season games last year before winning the MAAC Tournament Semifinals game to take all three meetings.
 
Gotta Catch 'Em All
• Niagara collected 41 rebounds in Friday's loss to Canisius, the 10th time they've gotten at least 40 rebounds in a game.
• The team is 3-7 in those games with those three wins coming in the last four games the team has hit that rebounding threshold.
 
Another Note About Rebounds
• Niagara has won each of the last four games in which it has outrebounded its opponent.
• On the same note, the last four losses have come in games in which it get outrebounded.