Jan. 9, 2008

Box Score

West Point, NY - Despite 14 points from senior Chelsey Bunyer (Shannon, IL / Eastland) and a season-high 10 points from sophomore Naomi Augustin (Valley Stream, NY / Valley Stream Central), Wagner was felled by Army 59-50 at the Christl Arena in the Seahawks' final non-conference tilt of the season. The Green & White are now 2-12 while the Black Knights improve to 9-6.

Wagner scored a season-low 12 first-half points but went into intermission down just 24-12 thanks to a relentless defense that forced the Black Knights into just 31.0 percent (9-29) shooting. The Seahawks however could not capitalize as they shot just 23.1 percent (6-26) and were victimized by 12 turnovers that led to a 12-2 differential in points off turnovers.

The Black Knights would keep the pressure on the Seahawks extending their lead to 46-27 with 8:25 to go in the game. Wagner's offense then came to life with a 13-2 run over the next 3:11 to cut the deficit to single-digits at 48-40 with 5:14 to play. Sophomore Andrea Reed (Pocomoke City, MD / Pocomoke) started the rally with an old fashioned three-point play. Augustin followed with a three pointer off a pass from Reed. After an Army turnover, Reed found a cutting Ashley Olsen (Fr., Staten Island, NY / Notre Dame Academy) for a lay-up to slice the lead to 46-35. Army briefly slowed the Wagner-attack with a lay-up before Reed split a pair of defenders for a lay-up. Augustin completed the comeback with her second three pointer of the game.

However that would be as close as Wagner would come.

The Black Knights answered with two straight buckets to push the lead back out to 52-40 with 4:08 to go. The Seahawks would continue to claw at the lead, getting to within seven but could get no closer, losing 59-50 for their 12-straight loss.

In the second half, the Wagner offense came to life shooting 40.0 percent (14-35). Unfortunately the Black Knights also picked it up offensively hitting on 45.2 percent (14-31) of their shots. Defensively, the Green & White were also up to the challenge forcing 14 turnovers that led to 14-5 advantage in points off turnovers.

The Seahawks were outrebounded by a 48-35 count, including 16-9 on the offensive end, but were ultimately done in by Army's 15-4 advantage in fast-break points.

Stefanie Stone (12 points) led three double-figure scorers for the Black Knights while Courtney Wright pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds.

Wagner is next in action on Saturday, Jan. 12 at 5 pm when the Green & White host Saint Francis (PA) at the Spiro Sports Center.

NOTES: Wagner hit three triples in the second half after making just three in the previous five halves ... The Green & White more then tripled their offensive output in the second half (38 points) compared to the first (12 points) ... Army now holds a 2-1 advantage in the all-time series with both wins coming in West Point ... With her 14 points, Bunyer now has 1,059 points and moved past Brenda Milano (1,046 points), Toni Roker (1,049 points) and Jenny Frazier (1,051 points) into 18th on the all-time Wagner scoring-list ... Jeanne Sullivan is 17th with 1,144 points.