Wagner (1-16, 0-6 NEC) is under the direction of first-year head coach Heather Jacobs, who arrived on Grymes Hill in April after building championship programs at Division III Daniel Webster College, and most recently, Division II Adelphi College. The Seahawks, who are playing their best basketball of the season and are coming off a gritty 70-61 loss at Bryant, have been led of late by freshman forward Kerstie Phills (Charlotte, NC / Charlotte), who has earned a program-record four consecutive NEC Rookie of the Week awards In Wagner's six NEC games, the Seahawks have three players averaging in double figures. Phills leads the way with an NEC scoring average of 14.8, tops among all freshmen in the league, on 46.8 percent shooting, to go with her team-leading 7.2 rebounds per game. Deep-shooting 5-6 freshman guard Kellie Crouch (North Brunswick, NJ / St. John Vianney) is hitting for 11.0 ppg. in NEC play, thanks in large part to her blistering 44 percent three-point shooting (19-of-45) while McClure checks in at 10.0 ppg. in conference games, followed closely by Russell, who averages 9.0 ppg. in league and a team-best 10.8 ppg. overall. Overall, Wagner is led in scoring by 5-8 junior guard Tanasia Russell (Vineland, NJ / Vineland) who averages 10.8 points per game and in rebounding by 5-8 sophomore guard Julia McClure (Secaucus, NJ / Secaucus), who averages 6.5 caroms per game and is fresh off her third double-double of the season, a 15-point, 10-rebound effort at Bryant.  McClure check in at 8.2 ppg., while 5-10 freshman guard Corinn Baggs (Staten Island, NY / Staten Island Academy) averages 4.4 ppg., and 5.1 rpg. Up front, 6 -1 senior forward Taylor Butigian (Rockaway Park, NY / Christ the King) contributes 2.9 ppg. and 4.5 rpg., which is third-best on the team, while senior forward Jackie Dluhi (Middletown, NJ / Middletown South) is fourth on the team in rebounding (4.3 rpg.).

Kerstie Phils Earns Fourth Straight NEC Rookie of Week Honor
Freshman forward Kerstie Phills (Charlotte, NC / Charlotte Christian) has become the first player in Wagner women's basketball history to earn four consecutive Northeast Conference (NEC) Rookie of the Week awards, the league office announced. The 5-9 Phills, who continues to lead all NEC rookies in scoring (14.8 ppg) during conference play, continued her consistent and productive play last week against two of the league's top teams, averaging 15.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 3.0 steals in games vs. Robert Morris (1/14) and Bryant (1/16). Kerstie has just begun to close the gap of where she is and how good she can be," said Seahawk first-year head coach Heather Jacobs. "She is extremely coachable and works hard. When you couple those things with her athleticism, great things can happen. The best thing about Kerstie is she a good teammate and is about the team first," Jacobs added. "She goes out each night with the team first in mind and gives her best effort and has been rewarded with these individual accolades. We are excited for the future; for both 'KP' and our team." Phills was sensational during Monday's back-and-forth affair at Bryant, pouring in 20 points to go with six rebounds and five steals. She shot 60 percent from the floor (9-of-15) in the 70-61 setback that featured 14 ties and 22 lead changes.  Two days earlier, the North Carolinian totaled 10 points and five rebounds as the Green & White trailed by just six points at halftime against defending NEC champion Robert Morris. For the season, Phills averages 10.5 points and 5.6 rebounds per game, ranking among the NEC's top-20 leaders in both categories.  The NEC record for most consecutive Rookie of the Week awards was set last season when Saint Francis U's Jessica Kovatch copped this honor 10 straight times.

Wagner Women's Basketball Signs Pair Of International Students For 2017-18 Season
Wagner first-year head women's basketball coach Heather Jacobs has signed two highly-regarded international players, Joellen How from Opunake, New Zealand and Taylah Simmons from Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, each of whom are enrolled in classes at Wagner College and will compete in practices immediately before becoming eligible to play in the 2017-18 season. How is a 5-10 guard from Opunake, New Zealand where she competed for the New Plymouth Girls' High School which is a member of the Taranaki Secondary Schools Association (TSSA). After earning New Plymouth's MVP award in 2016, How was selected to compete in the 2016 New Zealand World Basketball Championships. "Joellen has a terrific ability to read the game," said Jacobs. "Not only can she shoot it and score but she puts her teammates in positions to be successful. She is a special player because she will not only contribute but she has the ability to make those around her better." Simmons is a 6-0 guard, who competed for Canterbury Girls' Secondary College and boasts a wide and varied basketball resume. She averaged 13.0 points, 6.7 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 18 games in helping to lead the Nunawading Spectres to a semifinal appearance in the 2016 Victorian Youth Championship while earning All Star 5 recognition in the process. The Specteres have produced more Australian Olympic and World Championship players and coaches than any other program in the country. Simmons also spent time with the Balwyn Redbacks, Ebees and Wattle Park Saints in Melbourne East Basketball Association (MEBA) / Greater Eastern Basketball Conference (GEBC) competition "Taylah is extremely versatile with the ability to score in multiple ways," Jacobs said. "She is going to thrive within our system. Her effort and understanding of the game can be easily noted and we expect her to make a significant impact immediately."

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