Staten Island, NY – Freshman forward Kerstie Phills (Charlotte, NC / Charlotte Christian) scored 16 points and junior guard Tanasia Russell (Vineland, NJ / Vineland) recorded her first career double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds, but streaking Saint Francis U's fullcourt pressure defense forced 23 turnovers, as the Red Flash recorded a 67-46 win this afternoon at the Spiro Sports Center.
 
In front of a season-high 1,117 fans on hand for Alumni Day, along with a national audience watching on ESPN3, SFU won its seventh straight game to maintain a share of the Northeast Conference (NEC) lead at 8-1, while moving to 11-9 overall. With the loss, the Seahawks fall to 1-19 on the season, 0-9 in league play.
 
Coming into the game as the NEC's top scoring unit at 79. 2 points per game, Wagner was able to hold the Red Flash 12 points below that season average today. SFU sophomore guard Jessica Kovatch, the league's top scorer at 22.4 ppg. entering the day, led the way with 16 points for the Red Flash, while Ace Harrison and Maya Wynn added 14 and 13 points, respectively.
 
SFU held a slim 12-10 lead after one quarter before outscoring the Seahawks 25-12 in the second quarter en route to seizing a 37-22 halftime bulge. Wagner was within 15 points following a layup by freshman guard Corinn Baggs (Staten Island, NY / Staten Island Academy), at 52-37 with 7:59 to play, before the Red Flash went on a 13-0 run to put the game away.
 
In scoring 16 points today, the versatile 5-9 Phills, a four-time NEC Rookie of the Week honoree this season, has now hit for double figures in 10 straight game and 12 of the last 13 overall. The NEC's leading freshman scorer at (15.4 ppg. NEC games/11.2 ppg. overall), Phills pulled down seven rebounds on the day, while adding two assists and a steal.
 
In addition to notching her first career double-double, the slashing 5-9 Russell set a career high with those 10 rebounds, eclipsing her previous career best of nine. Baggs wound up with six points, while coming up with four steals and grabbing three rebounds.
 
Helped by sophomore guard Julia McClure's (Secaucus, NJ / Secaucus) nine rebounds, the Seahawks held a 38-32 advantage on the boards, while points in the paint were dead even at 22 apiece. SFU outshot Wagner, 45.1 percent to 34.0 percent and held a 26-11 edge in points off turnovers.
 
Wagner is right back at it on Monday night when the Seahawks host the St. Francis College Terriers. The 7:00 p.m. tip can be seen live on necfrontrow.com with play-by-play man Pete Mundo describing the action.
 
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