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Posted on March 9, 2010 by Niagara Press Report
 After a strong rookie season, men’s hockey blueliner Jason Beattie has been named to the 2009-10 College Hockey America All-Rookie Team, as announced by the conference on Tuesday.
The 6-foot-3 product has scored two goals, three assists and five points in 28 games thus far for the Purple Eagles. Beattie also is a force to be dealt with in the defensive end, known for his physical play and crushing checks.
The No. 4 Niagara Purple Eagles open the 2010 CHA Tournament against the No. 1 Bemidji State Beavers at Dwyer Arena at 7 p.m. on Friday. Tickets are still available for Friday night’s game. The game will be broadcasted on the Niagara Sports Network.
Posted on March 7, 2010 by Niagara Press Report
 The No. 6 Niagara men’s basketball team (18-15) fell in the 2010 MAAC Semifinal round on Sunday evening, losing 69-63 to the No. 2 Fairfield Stags (22-9). The loss brings an end to the careers of four student-athletes who were part of the winningest seasons in Niagara history.
“It’s tough to even break down the game when you have to say goodbye to an incredible group of seniors,” Niagara head coach Joe Mihalich said.
The group was part of the 26-win campaign a season ago, the second-most wins in program history. Tyrone Lewis, the only graduating senior to play all four seasons at Niagara, will go down as the biggest winner in school history, collecting 90 wins since the 2006-07 season, including a MAAC Championship and an NCAA Tournament win.
Niagara season ends in MAAC semifinal loss – continue reading…
Posted on March 7, 2010 by Niagara Press Report
 The Purple Eagle seniors just would not let their basketball careers come to an end. Niagara’s upperclassmen made clutch play after clutch play down the stretch to advance to the 2010 MAAC Semifinals with a 68-64 win over No. 3 Iona late Saturday night.
“It was a hard-fought, grind-it-out win,” Niagara head coach Joe Mihalich said. “We beat a very good team. We have great respect for them, but we are really proud of our guys. Our seniors were the key.”
The victory marks the ninth time in Mihalich’s 12 years that the Purple Eagles will be playing in the semifinals. Sunday evening’s tilt pits the No. 6 Purple Eagles against No. 2 Fairfield at 6 p.m.
Niagara advances in MAAC tourney; Canisius out – continue reading…
Posted on March 6, 2010 by Niagara Press Report
 The fifth-seeded Niagara Purple Eagles were eliminated in the 2010 Citizens Bank MAAC Tournament Semifinals by top-seeded Marist, 69-47, on Saturday afternoon from the Times Union Center.
“We woke up this morning believing we had a chance to play for a MAAC Championship tomorrow and that is huge step in the culture of our program,” head coach Kendra Faustin said.
Niagara (13-18), which was playing in its first MAAC Semifinal game since 2005, was going against a tournament experienced Marist (25-7) team that is the four-time defending tournament champion. NU was competitive throughout the game in its bid for its first championship game appearance in 13 years.
NU Women Lose to Marist in MAAC Semis – continue reading…
Posted on March 6, 2010 by Niagara Press Report
 Niagara takes on Iona in the MAAC Quarterfinals on Saturday night to begin its quest for the Purple Eagles’ third title in six seasons. Head coach Joe Mihalich owns a 15-9 record in the MAAC Tournament and has reached the MAAC Finals five times in the last eight seasons. The Purple Eagle mentor led Niagara to the 2005 & 2007 MAAC Title.
NU has reached the MAAC Semifinals eight times in Joe Mihalich’s 11 MAAC Tournaments. The season’s first win over Iona would give NU its ninth appearance.
Saturday evening’s quarterfinal contest will air live on MSG. Doug Sherman & Rob Kennedy will have the call live starting at 10 p.m.
Niagara takes on Iona tonight in MAAC Tourney – continue reading…
Posted on March 1, 2010 by Niagara Press Report
 Bilal Benn and Tyrone Lewis received All-MAAC honors on Monday, as announced by the conference office.
Benn and Lewis both landed on the All-MAAC Second Team.
Benn ranks second in the MAAC with 9.9 rebounds per game and third with 12 double-doubles. He also averages 13.5 points per game, 3.3 assists per game and 1.9 steals per game. He currently ranks in the top 10 of nine conference statistical categories. In his last eight games, Benn is averaging 12.5 ppg and 10.6 rpg.
Lewis ranks third in the MAAC with 16.8 ppg while leading the conference with 3.2 3-pointers per game. Last week, the 5-foot-11 guard became the first player in MAAC history to record 1,500 points, 500 rebounds, 200 assists and 200 steals. On Sunday, Lewis passed former teammate Charron Fisher for third place on the school’s all-time scoring chart with 1,808 career points.
Both Benn and Lewis earned First-Team honors last year. This marks the second all-conference honor for Benn and third for Lewis.
Posted on February 28, 2010 by Niagara Press Report
 The Niagara men’s basketball team (17-14, 9-9 MAAC) dropped its regular season finale to the Fairfield Stags (20-9, 13-5 MAAC) in overtime on Sunday, 80-74. The Purple Eagles used a furious comeback to force overtime, but shot just 13-for-28 from the free throw line in the game.
“The good thing about (Sunday) was that it was almost a practice for what we are going to see next week,” Niagara head coach Joe Mihalich said. “We were playing a good team in a playoff setting, and we almost pulled it off not playing well. But we can’t shoot 13-for-28 from the foul line and win.”
Niagara loses regular season finale at Fairfield – continue reading…
Posted on February 27, 2010 by Niagara Press Report
 The Niagara men’s basketball team (17-13, 9-8 MAAC) improved to 5-1 in February with a 74-72 victory over Manhattan (10-18, 4-13 MAAC) on Friday night in Riverdale, N.Y. The victory guaranteed a top-6 finish and that coveted Friday bye in next week’s MAAC Championships for the Purple Eagles.
In the win, senior Tyrone Lewis became the first player in MAAC history to record 1,500 points, 500 rebounds, 200 assists and 200 steals. He needed two rebounds to reach the special feat, and he pulled down his second carom early in the first half to achieve the milestone. The 5-foot-11 guard now has 1,793 points, 503 rebounds, 284 assists and 224 steals in his illustrious career.
Lewis makes history in NU win over Manhattan – continue reading…
Posted on February 26, 2010 by Niagara Press Report
 Niagara travels to Manhattan for a Friday night showdown in the final regular season weekend. The Purple Eagles will be fighting for playoff positions, as the No. 5-7 seeds are up for grabs for next weekend’s MAAC Tournament.
The Purple Eagles have won seven-straight in the conference rivalry over the Jaspers, including a 24-point win in December. Senior Tyrone Lewis has set a career-high in points in each of the last two times he has played inside Draddy Gymnasium. Last year, Lewis scored 31 points on 10-for-22 shooting, including six 3-pointers.
NU fans can listen live to all the action this season from “The Voice of the Purple Eagles” Todd Callen. Friday’s matchup can be heard live on WGR 550 AM. Internet listeners can listen free through Yahoo! Sports live web-streaming by clicking here.
Niagara Takes on Manhattan in Friday Night Fight – continue reading…
Posted on February 19, 2010 by Niagara Press Report
 Niagara travels across the Grand Island Bridges to face archrival Canisius on Friday night to continue its season-long four-game road trip. The Purple Eagles are 8-2 in their last 10 games.
The Purple Eagles topped the Golden Griffins in the last meeting in front of a sold out crowd at the Gallagher Center in the midst of their five-game winning streak. Niagara held its rival to its lowest point total in the series in 32 years en route to snapping its four-game skid against Canisius.
Niagara now visits a Canisius team that has lost three of its last four games and the Purple Eagles look for their first regular season sweep of the Golden Griffins since the 2006-07 season.
Niagara, Canisius women to tangle on court tonight – continue reading…
Posted on February 18, 2010 by Niagara Press Report
 Junior goalie Jenni Bauer has been nominated for the 2010 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award announced today by USA Hockey. The Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award recognizes the accomplishments of the most outstanding player in NCAA Division I women’s ice hockey each season.
Bauer has started in net in every game this season for the Purple Eagles and has a 2.16 goals against average and .919 save percentage. Bauer has earned three College Hockey America (CHA) Defensive Player of the Week awards this season with the latest coming on Feb. 1 after a splendid weekend in net against then-No. 1 Mercyhurst. She stopped 83 of 85 shots and limited the nation’s top offensive squad to one goal in each game. She had a season-high 44 saves in Niagara’s 2-1 win over Mercyhurst. The win was NU’s first over a top ranked team and snapped the Lakers’16-game unbeaten streak.
Niagara’s Bauer Nominated for Kazmaier Memorial Award – continue reading…
Posted on February 16, 2010 by Niagara Press Report
 Niagara head volleyball coach Susan Clements was named 2009 National Coach of the Year by College Volleyball Update (CVU.com). The third-year head coach led Niagara to its first ever MAAC title this season.
Clements guided the Purple Eagles to the biggest turnaround in the NCAA this season. NU earned a 6-24 record last year with a 4-14 mark in conference play last year as the youngest team in the nation, but the third-year leader coached the squad to a 14-4 mark in MAAC play in 2009, and a 23-9 overall mark, both school records.
Playing in their first MAAC Tournament, the Purple Eagles knocked out the four-time defending champion Siena in five sets before sweeping Marist in the MAAC Championship. Niagara won its first ever conference title and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time, facing Michigan.
Niagara’s Clements Named National Coach of the Year – continue reading…
Posted on February 15, 2010 by Niagara Press Report
 All four Purple Eagle seniors reached double figures propelling the Niagara men’s basketball team to a 70-51 Senior Day victory over Marist on Sunday. The victory was the fourth in five games for the Purple Eagles.
Bilal Benn, Rob Garrison, Tyrone Lewis and Demetrius Williamson combined for 53 points, two more than the entire Red Foxes team, in their final game inside the ‘Taps’ Gallagher Center.
“Today’s game really was the perfect storm, and we overcame it,” Niagara head coach Joe Mihalich said. “We played well and we played with character and it’s because of the seniors. They were the story today.”
NU romps Marist on senior day – continue reading…
Posted on February 13, 2010 by Niagara Press Report
 The Niagara University women’s lacrosse team was picked to finish in seventh place in the 2010 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Preseason Poll as voted on by the league coaches.
The Purple Eagles received 10 points, coming off of a 4-11season, where they finished 1-5 in the MAAC. Leading scorer Courtney Formato will be back this year for Niagara, after scoring 25 goals and seven assists for 32 points during the 2009 season.
Fairfield (48 points) was selected to win it all, with Canisius (39), Marist (34), Manhattan (28) Iona (21) and Siena (16) trailing them.
Niagara kicks off the 2010 season when they take on St. Francis (Pa.) on February 19, at 3 p.m.
Posted on February 13, 2010 by Niagara Press Report
 The Purple Eagles have been saying for the past few games that all they needed was one big win to get back on track. On Friday night, in front of a packed house and on national television, Niagara got that one win. And, boy, was it a big one.
The Purple Eagles (14-13, 7-8 MAAC) ended the nation’s longest winning streak, mauling Siena (21-5, 14-1 MAAC) 87-74 inside a raucous ‘Taps’ Gallagher Center and on ESPN2. Niagara led by two at the break, and used a 15-0 run midway through the second half to pull away from the nation’s hottest team.
The loss for Siena ended a 15-game overall win streak for the Saints and an 18-game streak against conference opponents. The win for Niagara gave the Purple Eagles their swagger back.
Niagara ends Siena’s nation longest winning streak – continue reading…
Posted on February 12, 2010 by Niagara Press Report
 Niagara welcomes the nation’s hottest team and the two-time defending conference champion Siena Saints to the Gallagher Center for a Friday evening tilt on ESPN2. The contest, which is the third home game in less than a year that will air on either ESPN or ESPN2, pits the last two conference champions against each other.
The Purple Eagles will look to end the nation’s longest winning streak at 15 on Friday. The last time Niagara and Siena squared off inside the legendary ‘Taps’ Gallagher Center, the Purple Eagles reached triple-digits, posting a 100-85 victory.
Friday night’s game will air live on ESPN2 at 8 p.m. Lou Canellis and Tim Welsh have the call from the Gallagher Center.
Niagara to host nation’s hottest team tonight – continue reading…
Posted on February 8, 2010 by Niagara Press Report
 The Niagara men’s basketball team (13-13, 6-8 MAAC) dropped a road conference contest at Rider (14-12, 7-7 MAAC) on Monday, 70-62. The Purple Eagles took a 14-point lead into halftime, but allowed 47 points in the second-half.
“It was a dissappointing loss,” Niagara head coach Joe Mihalich said. “We let a great opportunity slip away.”
The Purple Eagles used a strong defensive effort in the first half, taking a 37-23 lead into the locker room at halftime. But after intermission, the Broncs outscored Niagara 47-25, shooting 56.7 percent for the come-back victory. Rider now sits in fifth place with four MAAC games remaining, while NU slips into a sixth-place tie with Canisius.
Niagara blows big halftime lead, falls at Rider – continue reading…
Posted on February 6, 2010 by Niagara Press Report
 Rivalry games seem to bring the best out in the Niagara men’s basketball team. The Purple Eagles used a strong defensive effort throughout the contest to topple crosstown rival Canisius, 66-54, in front of a sold-out ‘Taps’ Gallagher Center on Friday night.
The Purple Eagles forced their rivals into 21 turnovers and converted that into 26 points in the victory. Niagara collected 10 steals and six different players combined for nine blocks.
But the defense really clamped down over the final 12:19 of the contest. Niagara took at 44-34 lead early in the first half, but Canisius rebounded with an 11-0 run to take a 45-44 lead at the 12:19 mark. From that point on, the Purple Eagles defense held the Golden Griffins to nine points on 4-of-15 shooting while forcing nine turnovers and blocking three shots.
Niagara gets revenge on Canisius – continue reading…
Posted on February 1, 2010 by Niagara Press Report
 The Niagara men’s basketball team (12-12, 5-7 MAAC) used a balanced effort in the scoring column and a big second-half spurt to get back in the winning column with an 86-77 over Loyola (10-12, 3-9 MAAAC) on Sunday. Six Purple Eagles scored at least nine points in the victory.
“We had a difficult January, but we finished it up the right way,” Niagara head coach Joe Mihalich said. “We need to use this win to have a great February.”
Senior Demetrius Williamson bounced back from a scoreless contest at Canisius to lead all scorers with 20 points, and Anthony Nelson helped will the team to victory lane with 15 points, six rebounds and four assists on 4-of-6 shooting from the floor and and 6-of-8 from the line.
Niagara uses balance to take out Loyola – continue reading…
Posted on January 30, 2010 by Canisius Press Report
 Senior guard Frank Turner and junior forward Elton Frazier combined to score nine of Canisius’ 11 points in overtime to help lift the Golden Griffins to a 73-70 overtime win over long-time rival Niagara in front of a sellout crowd in the Koessler Athletic Center Friday night. The win improves the Blue and Gold to 11-11 overall and 6-5 in the MAAC, while the Purple Eagles slipped to 11-12 overall and 4-7 in conference play.
Frazier finished the night with a game-high 20 points and a team-best 10 rebounds for his third career double-double, while Turner chipped in 18 points, five assists and four steals as Canisius posted just its second win over Niagara since the 2002-03 season.
Griffs edge Niagara in overtime, 73-70 – continue reading…
Posted on January 24, 2010 by College Press Reports
 Visiting Saint Peter’s shot 47.4 percent from 3-point range, and the MAAC’s top defensive unit held Canisius to 30.4 percent from the field, as the Peacocks took down the Golden Griffins 68-55 Sunday afternoon on Hall of Fame Day in the Koessler Athletic Center. The win was Saint Peter’s fifth straight and improved the team to 12-8 overall and 7-3 in the MAAC, while Canisius slipped to 10-11 overall and 5-5 in league play.
Four Canisius players scored in double figures in the losing effort, led by senior Frank Turner and his game-high 18 points. Junior Elton Frazier was credited with 12 points and eight rebounds in the loss, while fellow junior Greg Logins was credited with a double-double after he came off the bench to score 11 points to go with 10 rebounds. Julius Coles posted 11 points as well for Canisius, which shot 30.4 percent from the field, 25 percent from 3-point range and 69.6 percent from the free-throw line.
Niagara, Canisius continue hoops struggles – continue reading…
Posted on January 23, 2010 by Niagara Press Reports
 The Niagara men’s basketball team (11-10, 4-5 MAAC) dropped a 74-65 decision against Saint Peter’s (11-8, 6-3 MAAC) on Friday night inside the ‘Taps’ Gallagher Center. Senior Demetrius Williamson led all scorers with a career-high 23 points.
“I thought (Friday night) that there were a lot of plays where we were out toughed,” Niagara head coach Joe Mihalich said. “I think we did a good job defensively in the first half, we just didn’t rebound the ball well enough. Without Tyrone, there really was no room for error.”
The Purple Eagles were playing their ninth game of the season without a First-Team All-MAAC player, and sixth game without the MAAC’s leading scorer, Tyrone Lewis (shoulder).
NU still can’t get on track in loss to St. Peters – continue reading…
Posted on January 20, 2010 by Niagara Press Report
 The Niagara University Athletics Department will induct three new members into the Niagara Athletics Hall of Fame on Saturday, Feb. 13, as part of a special Hall of Fame Weekend. The 2009-10 class includes Chris Begg (baseball), Eva Cunningham (women’s basketball), and Dick McCarthy (football).
Chris Begg
Begg, a 2001 graduate of Niagara, was the 2001 MAAC Pitcher of the Year. He holds the NU record for career strikeouts (195), complete games (13) and shutouts (3), as well as the single-season record for wins during the 2001 season with eight. Begg led Niagara to the 2001 MAAC Championships with an 8-3 record and 86 strikeouts. His 3.61 career earned-run average still ranks second in the schools career annals.
Niagara to induct three into Hall of Fame – continue reading…
Posted on January 19, 2010 by Niagara Press Report
 The Niagara men’s basketball team (11-9, 4-4 MAAC) used a hot start to the second half to help defeat Marist (1-17, 1-7 MAAC) 72-56 at McCann Center in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. The victory snapped a three-game road losing streak and evened the Purple Eagles’ conference mark at 4-4.
Niagara scored the first nine points of the second half thanks to an aggressive full court trapping defense. The Purple Eagles run extended to 23-7 and Niagara led by as many as 22 after the break. NU forced 18 turnovers and scored 18 points of off Marist’s miscues.
Niagara routes Marist to move to 4-4 in MAAC – continue reading…
Posted on January 16, 2010 by Niagara Press Report
 The Niagara men’s basketball team (10-9, 3-4 MAAC) dropped a road MAAC contest against the Iona Gaels (12-6, 4-3 MAAC), 64-47, on Saturday night. The Purple Eagles were held to a season-low 47 points and shot a season-low 28.0 percent from the field.
Niagara has lost three in a row for the first time since the beginning of the 2006-07 season during a 1-6 start. That team rebounded to win the 2007 MAAC Tournament and reach the NCAA Tournament.
Iona started the game on a 13-4 run and never trailed in their first home game since December. Nine different Gaels made a field goal in the win.
Niagara men drop third in a row – continue reading…
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