WATCH MCBRIDE'S GAME-WINNING SHOT!

BOX SCORE

Staten Island, NY - Stephanie McBride's (Jr., Mechanicville, NY / Catholic Central) three pointer with 28.4 seconds remaining lifted Wagner to a thrilling 73-72 victory over American in non-conference action at the Spiro Sports Center. The Eagles got off a wide-open look in the waning seconds but were unable to convert as the Seahawks picked up their second-straight win.

The Green & White (2-3) shot a blistering 50.0 percent (27-54) from the floor, including a bubbling 57.7 percent (15-26) in the first half. Wagner's success also extended to the three-point line as the Seahawks converted on 57.1 percent (8-14), led by McBride's four three pointers en route to a team-high 18 points.

American (3-3) also shot the ball well, hitting on 43.6 percent (24-55), but cooled to 37.0 percent in the second stanza, and was led by Michelle Kirk, who dropped in a game-high 25 points, on 10-18 shooting. The Eagles stayed in the game thanks to connecting on 82.6 percent (19-23) from the charity stripe.

The second half featured five ties and two lead changes as the deciding stanza was a back-and-forth affair. With the score tied at 56-56 at the 10-minute mark, Wagner ripped off seven-straight points and appeared poised to put the game away. However, American fought back with a 10-3 spurt to tie the game up at 66-66 with 2:48 to go. Junior Ashley Olsen (Staten Island, NY / Notre Dame Academy) second-chance lay-up made it 68-66 but the Eagles answered with a base-line jumper to tie it back up with 2:33 on the clock.

The Seahawks then turned the ball over and American took its first lead of the half at 70-68 on a Michelle Kirk lay-up. Junior Sha'Ron Harrison (Paterson, NJ / John F. Kennedy) evened the score with 1:30 to go on another second-chance lay-up off before Lisa Strack made it 72-70, after sinking a pair from the line before McBride delivered the deadly dagger from the right side.

American exploded out of the gates taking a 15-4 lead with 10:23 remaining as Wagner started out stone-cold connecting on just 2-of-11 (18.1 %). From that point, the Seahawks ripped of 35 points on 13-of-14 shooting from the floor, including a perfect 6-for-6 from long-range before missing their final attempt of the half. Keying the 35-20 spurt, including a 16-2 run at one point, to close the half was McBride, who deposited 13 points, on 5-of-6 shooting. Despite only scoring two points in the half, Harrison helped the spread the floor while handing out four assists from the pivot position.

Sophomore Kelly Clark (Neptune, NJ / St. Rose) had a big game off the bench with 12 points and four blocks in 10 minutes while Harrison also notched double-digits with 10 points to go along with five rebounds, four assists and three blocks. Despite only notching eight points, senior Andrea Reed (Pocomoke City, MD / Pocomoke) handed out eight assists with five rebounds and two steals. Rounding out the top performers was junior Nyoto Patterson (Teaneck, NJ / Manhattan Center (NY)), who scored six points in just four minutes.

The Green & White are now 1-3, all-time, against the Eagles after losing the previous three meetings and are 1-2 this year against the Patriot League with one more game slated later in the year at Lehigh.

Wagner is next in action on Wednesday, December 2 at 7:00 pm when the Seahawks head to Syracuse. Tip-off at the Carrier Dome is scheduled for 7:00 pm.