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Highlights I Lisa Cermignano Press Conference

Staten Island, NY – Junior guard Jasmine Nwajei (Rockaway Park, NY/Murry Bergtraum) tossed in a game-high 20 points and moved into 11th place on the all-time career scoring list, but it was not enough as the Mississippi (Ole Miss) Rebels of the SEC pulled away for an 86-49 victory over Wagner in women's basketball action today at the Spiro Sports Center.
 
Nwajei's 20-point output brings her to 1,300 career points as she moved past Carrie Walker (2000-2004) who is at 1,288.  
 
Today's matchup vs. Ole Miss was the home opener for Wagner (0-4), which kicked off the season with road tilts at ACC member Pittsburgh, Old Dominion of Conference USA, and No. 7 Ohio State of the Big Ten. The Green & White have now faced an SEC team in its home opener for the second time in the last three years.  Two years ago, the Green & White opened the 2013-14 season by hosting No. 7 Kentucky.
 
With the win, which came on the heels of Friday's 72-57 victory at Stony Brook, the Rebels even their season mark at 3-3.  Shandricka Sessom led a balanced Ole Miss scoring attack with 18 points while Madinah Muhammad and Alissa Alston added 12 points apiece.
 
Nwajei was the lone Seahawk in double figures today as junior forward Jackie Dluhi (Middletown, NJ/Middletown South) and sophomore guard Tanasia Russell (Vineland, ,NJ/Vineland) added seven points apiece. The Seahawks, who trailed 19-12 after one quarter and 36-26 at the half, struggled from the floor throughout the game despite having their share of open looks, finishing at 28 percent from the game on 16-of-58 shooting. The Rebels, who held a 51-34 rebounding edge, shot 50 percent on the afternoon (33-of-66). 
 
Wagner is next in action on Wednesday, December 2 when the Seahawks host local rival NJIT in a rare 5:00 p.m. start with the men's team slated to meet Morgan St. at 7:30 p.m.
 
In addition to the five teams mentioned above, since her first season on Grymes Hill in 2012-13, fourth-year head coach Lisa Cermignano and her Seahawks have also faced such national luminaries as Rutgers, which came to the Spiro Center last season, along with Penn State, Maryland, Louisville, Seton Hall, Syracuse, St. John's and VCU.
 
Senior guard Jordyn Peck (Shaker Heights, OH/Shaker Heights), who finished with five points, has moved into 14th on the Wagner scoring list, passing Hall of Fame member Cindy Bonforte (1981-85) who is at 1,239 points.
 
Today's game marked the fourth time that that Wagner has faced a team that hails from the SEC. Previously, the Seahawks have met Kentucky, Mississippi State and Vanderbilt.
 
Follow Wagner Athletics on Facebook (facebook.com/WagnerAthletics), Twitter (@wagnerathletics), Instagram (@wagnerathletics) and YouTube (@WagnerSeahawks) for all the latest news and updates on the athletic department. Follow the women's basketball team on Twitter @WagSwagg_WBB for news and updates on the women's basketball program and @CERMIGNANO for news on the fourth-year coach.