Dec. 17, 2006
Box Score
New Rochelle, NY - Wagner's frantic late-game run was not enough as the Iona Gaels (6-5) held off Wagner (1-8) 74-67 in non-conference action at the Hymes Center earlier today.
Down 49-25 with 14:36 to go in the second, the Seahawks made an amazing late-game push using a tantalizing full-court press while hitting 15 of their final 20 shots to spur a game-ending 32-16 run over the last 8:28. However that was not enough to overcome an 8:52 scoring-drought to open the second half.
The Seahawks were dominated in the paint getting outrebounded 38-22 by the much bigger Gaels. Wagner stayed in the game in large part to shooting 45.6 percent for the game, including knocking down a season-best eight three's on 17 attempts just one game after failing to hit a single three pointer. Iona shot 52.0 percent (26-50) and hit 18 free throws compared to just seven for the Green & White.
Freshman Andrea Reed (Pocomoke City, MD / Pocomoke) paced the Wagner effort with a career-high 19 points, on 6-11 shooting, to go along with seven assists and four rebounds. Classmate John'a Poole (Middle River, MD / Eastern Tech) hit for 13 points while senior Takesha Dye (Boynton Beach, FL / Daytona Beach CC) scored 12 points and pulled down a team-best six rebounds to round out the double-digit scorers for Wagner.
The guard trio of Naomi Augustin (Valley Stream, NY / Valley Stream Central), Jessie Collins (Crofton, MD / Arundel) and Casey Stokes (Hummelstown, PA / Lower Dauphin) all helped keep Wagner in the game as they knocked down a combined six three pointers on just 12 attempts.
In the first half, the Seahawks scored the first five points and were up 7-3 with 16:39 remaining in the half when Iona ripped off a 14-0 run over the next 7:09 to go up by an insurmountable margin of 17-7. Down 21-13, Wagner scored seven straight points to cut the deficit to one at 21-20 with 5:26 to go, only to see Iona answer with a three-point play from MAAC preseason Player of the Year Martina Weber that ignited a 10-0 Gael run that propelled them to a 38-25 halftime lead.
Weber had 13 points to lead Iona while Toni Horvath chipped in with 12 points and Anna McLean had 10 points.
The Seahawks return to action on Wednesday, Dec. 20 at 7 pm when they host American University at the Spiro Sports Center.
NOTES: After failing to hit a three pointer for the first time in 141 games, Wagner hit a season-best eight ... The Seahawks are now 4-10 all-time against Iona with the Gaels winning the last three meetings ... Reed's previous career high in points was eight set against UNH (11/17) ... The Seahawks freshmen trio of Reed, Poole and Augustin combined for 38 points on 13-28 shooting.
