School: Niagara Nickname: Purple Eagles Affiliation: Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Coach: Kendra Faustin (11-50) 2008-09 record: 3-28

Overview: There’s no pretty way to say it—last year was a long, painful season on Monteagle Ridge. The Purple Eagles struggled to score. They struggled to stop opponents. They struggled to close out games when wins were within their reach.

How do you respond to a year like that? You learn and then move forward.

“We have two choices,” third-year head coach Faustin said. “We can dwell on it and feel bad for ourselves or we can focus ourselves and really do what we do. I really like the dynamics of our group. We have small numbers. We have 10 that will play. It makes the group easy to gauge. The dynamics and the chemistry are really good . . . I really enjoy this group.”

The team gets back senior guard Jennifer McNamee, who missed nine games last year while recovering from two concussions. Still, in 22 games she was the team’s leading scorer, averaging 12.1 points. Junior forward Liz Flooks (10.4 ppg) also returns.

Both have worked to become better shooters and scorers. Look for Flooks to be able to post-up bigger players and for McNamee to unleash an improved shooting touch combined with better reads off screens.

Sophomore Ali Morris was thrown into the point guard spot last year—a position unnatural to her—and she struggled. Morris will likely play more off guard this season with freshman Kayla Stroman taking over most of the point duties.

“I feel like the pieces fit for us,” Faustin said. “We have a true point guard. She’s a freshman so we’re going to go through some growing pains still but she has a veteran squad around her. . . . We’re returning some major game experience around a freshman point guard and I just think our pieces fit better.” Keys to success: With only 10 viable players, the Purple Eagles need to stay healthy. A small group can provide good chemistry but lack of depth can hurt.

Niagara also needs to develop the mental ability to endure the final five minutes of a game and learn to battle through adversity to get wins. A more effective execution of the offense would go a long way to making that happen.

Big games: Niagara travels to St. Bonaventure (Nov. 19). It picks up solid games in Eastern Michigan (Nov. 22) and Akron (Dec. 20) while Marist visits on Jan. 31.

Outlook: Niagara was picked last in the MAAC and rightfully so after a three-win season. But the team has talent and if it stays healthy and makes some shots down the stretch in games, it could notch 10 or 12 wins. —Amy Moritz