LEWISTON — Jada Pierce feels Niagara still has a long way to go.
But behind their first 2-0 start in MAAC play in nearly 20 years, Pierce believes the Purple Eagles are stepping in the right direction. But now, Niagara heads into the heart of the season with all of its 18 regular season games remaining in conference play.
With a tight schedule ahead, Niagara is back at full strength, as first-team all-MAAC selections Angel and Aaliyah Parker returned to the starting lineup after a 1-4 stretch with both sidelined, the lone win in a 71-69 finish versus Stonehill on Nov. 19.
On top of being the program’s first back-to-back homestand at Gallagher Center since November, the Parkers and Niagara (5-7) will host a pair of conference foes, first with Fairfield in its Kids Day game at 11 a.m. Thursday and will then face Mount St. Mary’s (3-8, 0-2 MAAC) at 2 p.m. Saturday.
Currently ranked 12th in the latest mid-major poll released by Collegeinsider.com Tuesday, Fairfield travels to Monteagle Ridge with a 10-1 overall record and is also 2-0 in MAAC play. Heading into the season, Niagara was selected as the preseason favorite to win the MAAC title while Fairfield was voted third. Pierce said Thursday would be an early test for both teams.
“We haven’t played to our full potential yet,” said Pierce, who recorded her 100th win with Niagara at Iona Dec. 16. “We feel like it’s going to be a playoff atmosphere (Thursday). Yes, it’s Game Three in conference (play) but it’s going to be electric in here. And I’m excited and I know the team is excited for (the) matchup.”
After missing the first nine games due to an offseason knee injury, Angel made her debut at Iona Dec. 16, adding eight points and a team-high 10 assists in 26 minutes of action. Even with her still getting her acclimated again, as Pierce said, Angel is averaging 5.7 points, 6 assists and 2.3 steals per game.
Aaliyah, the MAAC preseason player of the year, missed five games due to an unspecified illness and then returned in Niagara’s 87-56 loss at Cleveland State Dec. 6, adding six points, three rebounds and two steals. Aaliyah then led Niagara with a team-high 10 points on 5 of 12 shooting against West Virginia. Despite only playing seven games, the junior guard still leads Niagara in points (10.6) and rebounds (4.3) per game and is shooting 38.6% from the floor.
“It’s comforting as a head coach when you know that you have your two best players back on the floor together, and not just one or the other, but having them both back together,” Pierce said. “… Whatever it is that they need to do to help us, when they do that, they go the extra mile. They battle through those tough moments on the court and they will themselves to do things to help the team.”
Before the injury, Angel was a difference-maker for the Purple Eagles, leading in assists per game (3.3) and second in scoring (15.7) and steals (3.1) in 27.1 minutes per game, the latter three categories trailing only her younger sister.
In limited action since her return, Angel hasn’t found her scoring touch in just 21.3 minutes per game — the lowest since her freshman season — but she is still Niagara’s floor general, averaging six assists per game since her return.
“It’s so great to be back,” Angel said. “Just to be able to play with them after not being able to for so long. So just getting to join in and see what I was watching (on the bench), so, it’s very nice.”
Even before her absence, Aaliyah’s shooting wasn’t up to the standards from last year, scoring 14.7 points per game in the first three games after averaging 16.7 last season. Since re-entering the lineup, her scoring has dropped to 7.5 points per game, and she also is playing just 20.8 minutes per game after playing 27.3 in the first three contests.
Despite the lack of scoring production since her return, Aaliyah said she has noticed her progression through each game and looks to get her rhythm back, starting with the two-game homestand.
“Little by little, as the time goes on, I’m just seeing new things,” Aaliyah said. “Seeing things I haven’t seen before that I should be doing out there. Being out really helped me see what I need to do also.”