Jan. 4, 2006
Box Score
STATEN ISLAND, NY - Using a late 17-6 run, the Wagner Seahawks defeated St. Francis (NY) 63-55 to pick up their first win of the season earlier tonight at the Spiro Sports Center.
Wagner's win ends their 17-game losing streak, dating back to last season, and moves their record to 1-10 and 1-1 in the Northeast Conference (NEC) while the Terriers, coached by former Wagner standout Brenda Milano, fall to 2-10 and 0-2 in the NEC
Once again the tandem of senior guard Joy Gallagher (Hazleton, PA / Hazleton) and sophomore guard Chelsey Bunyer (Shannon, IL / Eastland) led the way as they accounted for 41 points and 11 rebounds. Gallagher had a game-high 21 points, on 8-14 shooting, to go along with six rebounds in 38 minutes while Bunyer scored 20 points, on 6-12 shooting, while adding five rebounds in 36 minutes of floor time.
After a SFNY lay-up gave the Terriers their largest lead of the game at 49-46 with 5:59 to go in game, the Seahawks answered with six-straight Bunyer points to go up 52-49. The Terriers would close the gap to 54-53 with 3:18 to go but Wagner would answer with a jumper by Gallagher and then after a SFNY turnover, Bunyer broke the Terriers back with an old-fashioned three-point play on a driving lay-up with 57 seconds left to put the Green & White up 59-53 on their way to a hard-fought 63-55 win
Sophomore center Ali Ridge (Barrington, IL / Fremd) recorded her second-straight double-double with 10 points and a game-high 10 rebounds while establishing herself as a legitimate third-scoring threat. Junior guard Jessie Collins (Crofton, MD / Arundel) also had a solid all-around game with six points, nine assists and three steals against only one turnover in 33 minutes of action.
The Seahawks jumped out to a fast start for the second-straight game, racing out to an early 15-8 lead with 11:37 remaining in the first half. SFNY would then go on a 6-2 run to cut the lead to three at 17-14. Over the final 7:26 of the half the Seahawks outscored the Terriers 16-6, to go into the half with their biggest lead of the season at 33-20.
Down 46-35 with 10:55 to go in the game, SFNY attacked the Seahawks going on a 14-0 run to go up for the first time in the game at 49-46 with 5:59 to go. But the gritty Seahawks refused to pack it in as they answered with a game-closing 17-6 run to pick up their first win of the season.
SFNY was led by 6-7 sophomore center Katja Bavendam, who scored all 14 of her points in the second half while pulling down a team-high seven rebounds.
Wagner will now head to Fairfield, CT to take on conference leader Sacred Heart Saturday, January 7 at 2 pm.
