BOX SCORE

New Britain, CT – Sophomore forward Marie-Laurence Archambault (Montreal, Quebec/ Montmorency) scored a game and season-high 22 points but it was not enough as Central Connecticut St. pulled away for a 65-52 Northeast Conference (NEC) victory at Detrick Gymnasium.

With the loss, the Seahawks fall to 9-11 on 2-7 in the NEC while the Blue Devils improve to 12-7, 5-4 in league play.

In a tight first half that featured four lead changes and three ties, Wagner trailed 28-25 at halftime despite 12 points from Archambault who was 5-of-9 from the field, including a 2-of-5 effort from three-point range. McBride was next in scoring for the Seahawks with five.

The teams traded baskets at the outset of the second half. CCSU opened up a seven-point lead on a layup by Alexandria Dowdy at the 16:02 mark that was followed an Archambault three-pointer eight seconds later that drew the Seahawks to within four at 35-31. A pair of free throws by senior forward Ashley Olsen (Staten Island, NY/ Notre Dame Academy) again cut the lead to four at 37-33 with 14:02 left to play. This is as close as the Seahawks would get the rest of the way as the Blue Devils went on a pivotal 12-4 run over the next 5:49 seconds to open up a commanding 49-37 lead. Dowdy jump-started the run with a three-pointer at the 13:38 mark.

Senior guard Stephanie McBride (Mechanicville, NY/ Catholic Central) stemmed the Blue Devil run by sinking two free throws with 8:05 left to make it a 10-point game at 49-39. CCSU would open its biggest lead of the game of 15 (56-41) at the 6:20 mark on a free throw by Justina Udenze. Wagner answered with an 11-5 burst to get as close as nine points at 61-52 with 2:18 to go on a three-pointer by freshman forward Laura Amorosa (Kirkland, Quebec/ Phillips Academy). Jessica Babe then pushed the lead by to double-digits with a pair of free throws by Jessica Babe.

Archambault finished the game as the only double-digit scorer for Wagner as Olsen, senior guard Megan Mahoney (Staten Island, NY/ St. Peter's) and McBride finished with seven points apiece. Junior center Kelly Clark (Neptune, NJ/ St. Rose), who came into the game leading the Seahawks in scoring at 13.2 points per game, was held scoreless. In 12 minutes of action, the 6-3 Clark did not attempt a single shot. For the game, CCSU out-shot Wagner 40 percent to 35 percent and won the rebounding battle 42-34. Both teams were guilty of 19 turnovers.

The Green & White took their first and only lead of the game on a three-pointer by McBride at the 14:15 mark of the first half that put the Seahawks on top 11-10. Mahoney, who picked up her second foul with 12:37 left in the first half and CCSU out in front 12-11, wound up with just two first-half points.

The Blue Devils opened their biggest lead of the half of five at 16-11 following a pair of free throws by Alexandria Dowdy with 7:55 remaining. Wagner would draw to within one point at 18-17 on a trey by Archambault at the 3:54 mark. With Wagner trailing 28-23, McBride was fouled in the act of shooting with 0.2 seconds left in the half and she sank both free throws to fashion the halftime score at 28-25.

CCSU held a slim 39 percent to 37 percent advantage from the floor while out-rebounding Wagner by a sizeable 23-15 margin. Wagner committed eight first-half turnovers while the Blue Devils turned the ball over 11 times.

Wagner continues its New England on Monday, January 31 when the Seahawks travel to Smithfield, RI to meet Bryant in a 7:00 pm contest.

NOTES – McBride saw her first action since suffering a laceration to her forehead in the first half vs. Robert Morris on Jan. 10. McBride, who sat out the last four games due to the injury, came off the bench to score seven points to go with two assists and one rebound in 18 minutes of action. Archambault's 22 points bettered her previous season high of 20 vs. Robert Morris on Jan. 10. Her career high is 24, which she tallied at Quinnipiac on Jan. 9, 2010. Archambault went 5-of-9 from three-point range with the five made three pointers tying her season high. Senior center Nyoto Patterson (Teaneck, NJ/ Manhattan Center) set a career high with 10 rebounds. Her previous career high was nine vs. St. Francis (NY) on Jan. 23, 2010.  Amorosa followed up her career-high nine-point outing vs. Quinnipiac on Monday with five-point outing in a career-high 19-minute outing.