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The Niagara Purple Eagles tip-off their season against the Texas Tech Lady Raiders on Friday, Nov.  13 at 12 p.m. eastern.
 
Pierce Era Begins
Jada Pierce brings 18 years of collegiate coaching experience at the Division I and II levels to Niagara. Pierce has coached 23 all-conference players, three defensive players of the year, 17 all-academic honorees, two WNBA players and assisted four programs to five NCAA Tournament berths.

Pierce arrives to Niagara University from Saint Joseph's University where she served as an assistant coach for three seasons.  Prior to Saint Joe's, Pierce served as an assistant at the United States Military Academy at West Point (2010-12), Mount St. Mary's (2009-10), University of Massachusetts (2007-09), Marist (2006-07), Massachusetts-Lowell. (2001-04), and the University of Delaware (1999-2001). Pierce gained head coaching experience at Cheyney University of Pennsylvania, an NCAA Division II program, from 2004-2006.
 
Purple Points

• Niagara returns eight from last season's team that went 14-17 and advanced to the MAAC Tournament Quarterfinals.
• Leading the way for the Purple Eagles is junior forward Victoria Rampado, who led the team in scoring and rebounding last season.
• Sophomore Kaylee Stroemple emerged towards the end of the season as a legitimate in the post. Senior guard Taylor McKay, who led NU in steals last season, look to be the team's defensive stopper. 
• Point guards Jamie Sherburne and Tiffany Corselli, along with off guard Emily Granruth, will play a major role in the team's development.
• NU added four newcomers to this season's team in freshmen Kharysma Bryant, Jayla Nichols, Nada Radonjic and Tyler Newkirk.

 
On The Court
Texas Tech Lady Raiders (0-0, 0-0 Big 12)

• Texas Tech returns seven players from last season's team that went 15-16 overall.
• Redshir junior Ivonne Cook Taylor is the returning leading scorer for Texas Tech, she averaged 9.1 points per game last season.
• The Lady Raiders were picked ninth out of 10 teams in the Big 12 Preseason Poll

 
Against the Big 12 Conference

• Niagara has only faced one team from the current members of the Big 12 - Iowa State (0-2)

 
Rampado Named To Preseason All-MAAC First Team
   Victoria Rampado was named to the Preseason All-MAAC First Team.
Rampado led the 2014-15 Purple Eagles in points per game (12.6), rebounds per game (6.1), free throw percentage (.748) and 3-point field goal percentage (.381) en route to being named to the  All-MAAC Second Team. Rampado was 10th in the MAAC in points per game and rebounds per game, 10th in free throw percentage and 12th in field goal percentage.
   The 2013-14 MAAC Rookie of the Year eclipsed the 20-point mark a team-high five times and had three double-doubles, including a career-high 27 points and 14 rebounds against eventual MAAC Champion Quinnipiac on Jan.11.
 
Leading The Charge
   Sam Lapszynski, Victoria Rampado and Kaylee Stroemple have been named captains of the Niagara University women's basketball team for the 2015-16 season.
   Lapszynski, a 6-foot-3 senior center from Jefferson, New Jersey, had a career year last season, as all of her career-highs came during her 22 games played. She averaged 1.7 PPG and 2.6 RPG in 10.7 minutes per game last season.  Lapszynski pulled down a career-high eight rebounds at Monmouth on Jan. 18.
   Rampado, a 6-foot-2 junior forward from Niagara Falls, N.Y. started in 21 of 30 games last season. In 2014-15, Rampado averaged 12.6 PPG, 6.1 RPG, .748 from the FT line, and .381 from behind the arc (all team highs). Her stellar play earned her All-MAAC Second Team honors. Rampado was 10th in the MAAC in PPG, RPG, and free throw percentage, and 12th in field goal percentage. Rampado was named to the 2015-16 Preseason All-MAAC First Team.
   Stroemple, a 5-foot-11 sophomore forward from Canton, Ohio, played in 31 games as a freshman last season. She averaged 5.6 PPG, including scoring a career-high 15 points against Fairfield. Stroemple also averaged 3.6 RPG, including two games in which she recorded nine rebounds.