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Staten Island, NY - Junior center Kelly Clark (Neptune, NJ/ St. Rose) poured in a game-high 24 points to lead four players in double figures as the Wagner College women's basketball team earned a wire-to-wire 74-64 victory over Saint Peter's.

With the win, Wagner evens its record at 5-5 on the season while Saint Peter's fell to 0-9.

For the 6-3 Clark, who went 8-of-11 from the field, it marked the third time this season she has topped the 20-point mark and it was her seventh double-digit scoring game of the season. Clark, who is now shooting 65 percent from the field for the season, entered the game No. 1 in the Northeast Conference and No. 5 nationally in field goal percentage.

At the outset of the game, Wagner raced out to a quick 11-2 lead, keyed by a three-pointer by senior forward Ashley Olsen (Staten Island, NY/ Notre Dame Academy) and a pair of layups by Clark. The Seahawks were still in control with a 16-6 lead following a three-pointer by sophomore forward Marie-Laurence Archambault (Montreal, Quebec/ Montmorency) at the 14:10 mark. The scrappy Peahens then clawed back, embarking on an 11-4 run to draw to within 20-17 on a Lauren Morris layup with 7:15 left in the half. Wagner then ended the half with an 8-5 burst to go into the locker room up 28-22.

Wagner, which played mostly zone defense throughout the opening stanza, held the Peahens to 26 percent shooting from the field in the first half. Offensively, the Seahawks hit 37 percent in the first half with Archambault leading the way with 11 points on the strength of a trio of three-pointers. Porter paced Saint Peter's with seven first-half points.

At the beginning of the second half, Saint Peter's drew to within four points at 32-28 following a jumper by Jynae Judson with 17:18 to go. A jumper by Aminah Davis at the 16:31 mark again drew the Peahens within four at 34-30.

Wagner then responded with a pivotal 9-0 run to open up its biggest lead of the game of 13 at 43-30 with 13:36 left in the game. Clark had six points during the run, highlighted by an old-fashioned three-pointer at the 14:57 mark. Following a missed jumper by Khadjah Young of Saint Peter's, senior guard Megan Mahoney (Staten Island, NY/ St. Peter's) swished a three-pointer after receiving a pass from fellow Islander Olsen that made it a 40-30 game with 14:11 left. Clark made one of two free throws at the 13:35 juncture, then hit a layup to cap the 9-0 run and put Wagner in control at 43-30.

Wagner led by a 12-point margin at 63-51 following a Mahoney free throw with 2:26 left but the feisty Peahens went on a 13-6 run, capped by a Morris layup with six seconds to go to make it a five-point game at 69-64. Wagner then made five free throws in the final two seconds, aided by an intentional foul on Aziza May of Saint Peter's, to fashion the final score at 74-64.

Mahoney supported Clark's 24-point effort with a 19-point outing while Archambault and Olsen added 13 and 10 points, respectively. Olsen added 10 rebounds, giving her three double-doubles on the season, two in a row and 10 for her career.

Wagner shot 41 percent from the floor for the game while holding Saint Peter's to 35 percent shooting. Wagner, which played mostly zone defense in the game, limited the Peahens to 3-of-16 (19 percent) shooting from beyond the arc. The Seahawks led in the rebounding department 39-34 but were victimized by 26 turnovers on the evening. Saint Peter's was led in scoring by Morris who had 18 points while Judson and Lynea Blue added 13 and 12 points, respectively.

The Seahawks are next in action when they compete in the first round of the Big Sky Classic at Dartmouth University. On Dec. 29, Wagner will face Vermont in the first round at 5:00 pm before meeting host Dartmouth on Dec. 30 at 7:00 p.m. Wagner then rings in the New Year with Northeast Conference play, traveling to Sacred Heart on Jan. 3 for a 7:00 pm contest

NOTES – Junior forward Micaela McDonald tied her career-high with four points while logging a career-high 16 minutes. Her previous career high was 14 minutes back on December 1 vs. Columbia. Archambault also logged a career high in minutes as she played the entire 40 minutes. The sharp-shooting Archambault, who entered the game ranked No. 12 in the nation in three-point accuracy at 48 percent, was successful on 50 percent of her three-point opportunities, making 3-of-6 from beyond the arc. Mahoney was 10-of-13 from the free throw line, both career highs. Wagner was again without the services of senior guard Stephanie McBride (Mechanicville, NY/ Catholic Central) who sat out her third straight game with a knee injury that she sustained in practice on Dec. 9.