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Lisa Cermignano Post-Game Interview

Staten Island, NY – Wagner's dynamic backcourt combination of sophomore Jordyn Peck (Shaker Heights, OH/Shaker Heights) and freshman Jasmine Nwajei (Rockaway Park, NY/Murry Bertraum) scored 20 points apiece as the Seahawks overcame a 12-point first-half deficit en route to a 71-65 win over LIU Brooklyn in the Northeast Conference (NEC) open for both teams at the Spiro Sports Center.

Wagner, which played the 15th-toughest schedule in the nation according to rpiratings.com through the season's first 10 games, improves to 2-10 on the season while the Blackbirds now have an identical 2-10 mark.

The Seahawks will look to make it a 2-0 NEC start on Monday, January 6 when they host the Bulldogs of Bryant in a 7:00 pm tussle.

Wagner opened up an 8-6 lead at the first media timeout (15:51), before LIU Brooklyn responded with a 16-2 run in opening up a 22-10 lead at the 10:16 mark of the first half. The Blackbirds assumed the 12-point advantages thanks to converting on eight of their first 11 shots while the Seahawks went almost six minutes without a point.

The Green & White snapped the scoreless drought with triples from Peck and Rowe in slicing the lead in half at 22-16.

The Blackbirds briefly stopped the bleeding with a pair of buckets in extending the lead back out to 10 with just over six minutes until halftime and appeared to be in control.  However, Wagner would continue to chip away at the lead before ripping off seven-straight points to end the half on a 15-4 run in taking a 31-30 lead at intermission.

The Seahawks shot just 39.4 percent (13-of-33) in the first 20 minutes and was outrebounded 21-14, but was able to turn 11 LIU Brooklyn miscues into a 17-2 advantage in points off turnovers. Peck led all players with 11 first-half points while Nwajei chipped in with nine markers and six rebounds as the Green & White backcourt accounted for 25 of the 31 first-half points.
 
The Seahawks picked up right where they left off after halftime, ripping off a 14-7 run over the first five minutes of the second stanza in opening a 45-37 advantage following a pair of Peck free throws at the 14:53 mark. After a Fanny Cavallo layup at 14:39 cut the deficit to 45-39, Wagner scored the next five points on a three-pointer from freshman guard Lyndsay Rowe (South River, NJ/St. John Vianney), followed by a layup by senior forward Stephanie Blais (Sherbrooke, Quebec/Montmorency) that opened up an 11-point lead at 50-39, prompting a timeour by Blackbird head coach Gail Streigler with 11:51 remaining.

The teams then traded baskets over the next six-plus minutes and when Nwajei sank a pair of free throws with 5:15 left, Wagner appeared to be in command with a 60-50 lead. LIU Brooklyn, however, responded with a 9-1 burst over the next 2:39, capped by a two Shanovia Dove free throws with 2:36 to go, which made it a two-point game at 61-59.

Following a Seahawk timeout, the Green & White executed with precision on its ensuing possession, as Nwajei found Blais open in the deep right corner and the 6-1 forward did the rest, burying a clutch three-pointer with 2:11 left to push the lead back to five at 64-59. Rowe made one of two free throws at 36-second mark to make it 69-62 before Sophie Bhasin made it interesting by sinking a three-pointer with 22 ticks left to make it a 69-65 game.

Following a Blackbird turnover, Peck was fouled in the backcourt and calmly sank a pair from the line with 12 seconds left to play for the final points of the game as Wagner held on for the 71-65 win.

In addition to her 20 points, Nwajei pulled down a career-high 12 rebounds in crafting a double-double, while dishing out a career-high eight assists in a yeoman's 38-minute outing. The rock-steady Rowe, who is the only Seahawk to start all 12 games this season, also turned in a fine floor game, adding 13 points, four assists and three rebounds while also playing 38 minutes. Peck also displayed tremendous stamina, shooting 4-of-8 from beyond the arc and a perfect 6-of-6 from the charity stripe while playing all 40 minutes.

Blais delivered her most productive outing of the season with 11 points on 4-of-7 shooting while redshirt sophomore center Ugo Nwaigwe (Valley Stream, NY/Valley Stream) did the dirty work in the post, scoring seven points on 3-of-4 shooting, while grabbing game-high honors with seven rebounds and four blocks in a spirited 21 minutes of action.

LIU Brooklyn received balanced scoring as Letava Whippy led four players in double figures with 16, followed by 15-point outings by Bhasin and Cleandra Roberts, while Cavallo added 10.

For the game, Wagner committed a season-low seven turnovers while forcing the Blackbirds into 18 turnovers. The Seahawks demonstrated excellent ball movement and court awareness throughout, as their 14 assists on 24 made field goals would attest.