Former DII All-American Getting It Done in D-I
Last Time Out
Princeton used a 10-0 run bridging the third and fourth quarters to break open a close game and pull away for a 58-37 victory over Wagner on Sunday at the Spiro Sports Center on Sunday. With the loss, the Seahawks fall to 2-8 on the season while the Tigers of the Ivy League improve to 7-3. Fifth-year senior forward Sierra Clark had 13 points and 10 rebounds in recording her fifth double-double and ninth double-digit scoring game on the season. Senior guard Tanasia Russell also finished with 13 points, to go with three assists, three rebounds and a steal. After being outscored 16-5 in the opening quarter, the Seahawks rebounded by outscoring the Tigers 12-8 in the second quarter in making it a 24-17 halftime score. A Russell jumper with 4:24 left in the third quarter drew Wagner within eight points at 36-28. Princeton then began its pivotal 10-0 run by closing the third with five unanswered points in making it a 41-28 game entering the final stanza. The Tigers then completed the run by notching the first points of the fourth quarter in building a 46-28 game with 8:16 remaining and the teams traded baskets from there. Freshman guard Alayshia Dailey added four points for the Seahawks, redshirt freshman guard Joellen How had three in her first collegiate appearance, while Taylah Simmons and Samantha Sullivan chipped in with two points apiece. Princeton had balanced scoring on the afternoon with Carlie Littlefield, Sydney Jordan, and Leslie Robinson leading the way with 10 points each. The Tigers outshot Wagner 40 percent to 30 percent and out-rebounded the Seahawks by a 44-25 margin.

First Career Double-Double Makes Simmons an #NECPrimerPerformer
Redshirt freshman guard/forward Taylah Simmons tossed in 13 points and pulled down a career-high 13 rebounds in helping power the Wagner to a 60-43 victory over Big South member Longwood on Sunday. The 6-0 Simmons recorded five points on 2-of-2 shooting and eight rebounds in helping the Seahawks to a 28-21 halftime lead. In the second half, the Australian native was 4-of-5 from the field en route to finishing 6-of-7 from the floor overall. Eleven of her 13 rebounds came on the defensive end, leading to several outlets passes that allowed Wagner to gain a 9-2 edge in fastbreak points. 

Wagner Head Coach Heather Jacobs
Second-year head Heather Jacobs, who has built a pair of championship programs during her nine-year coaching career, widely regarded as a rising star in the coaching profession, the second-year Seahawk head coach enters her second season on Grymes Hill after serving six seasons as head coach at Adelphi University in Garden City, NY, where she led the Panthers to unprecedented success. The high water mark for Jacobs at Adelphi came in 2014-15 when she led her team to a 28-4 record and an 18-2 mark in the NE-10 Conference, claiming the program's first-ever league championship and hosting the NCAA Division II East Regional. Adelphi was ranked as high as No. 3 in the nation and tied a program record for most wins in a season, and Jacobs earned ECAC Division II and All-Met Coach of the Year honors. Jacobs came to Adelphi, where she also served as assistant athletic director, following a three-year stint as the head coach/senior women's administrator at Daniel Webster College, a Division III institution in Nashua, NH. In 2009-10, she was named the New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) Coach of the Year following a school-record best finish of 20-6 and a regular season conference title. 

Seahawks Sign Four Players During Fall Signing Period

Sarah Creanor
6-0     Guard/Forward
Delihe Basketball Academy / Cranebrook, Australia
Wagner second-year head women's basketball coach Heather Jacobs has announced the signing of a four-person recruiting class that will bolster the Seahawk lineup as freshmen in 2018-19.
 
The four incoming student-athletes include 6-0 guard Sarah Creanor (Delihe Basketball Academy / Cranebrook, Australia), 6-3 post player Enas Nigatu (Washington-Lee HS / Arlington, VA),  5-7 guard Raven Pitt (Queens, NY / St. Joseph) and 5-9 guard Amanda Pollard (Champlin, MN / Champlin Park High School).
 


*Sarah Creanor will be a mid-year transfer who will join the Seahawk program for the spring semester and be eligible to compete in practice

*Skilled and versatile prospect

*Regarded as a knock-down shooter with a quick release and tremendous range

*Will become the fourth international student-athlete on the Seahawk roster

Coach Jacobs on Sarah Creanor:
"Sarah has consistent deep range with a tremendous basketball IQ. We are excited to welcome all of our new players and have high expectations for early contributions."

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Enas Nigatu
6-3     Forward/Center
Washington-Lee HS / Arlington, VA 

*Enas Nigatu is a low post force on both ends of the floor

*As a junior, averaged 8.6 points, 7.7 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game

*Earned All-NOVA Team (Honorable Mention), Second-Team All-Conference, and First-Team All-Arlington County honors

*Team's top rebounder who also scored in double figures six times

*Member of the Elevate Elite U17, U16 and U15 National Showcase Teams, as well as on the U.S. Junior National/NIKE D.C. Championship Team

*Member of the Generals' volleyball team

*Moved to the U.S. from Ethiopia at age 11.

Coach Jacobs on Enas Nigatu:
"Enas has great versatility on offense. In addition to scoring on the block, she can step outside and knock down shots. We will look for her to contribute immediately."
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Raven Pitt
5-7     Guard
Queens, NY / St. Joseph

*As a junior, Raven Pitt was a major scoring lead guard and undisputed team leader for a St. Joseph's team that won the Brooklyn-Queens "B" Championship in the program's inaugural season

*Averaged 15.2 points and 5.1 assists per game as a junior for the Lady Cougars

*Transferred to St. Joseph's from Valley Stream High School on Long Island prior to her junior season

Coach Jacobs on Raven Pitt:
"Raven has a great motor and high energy. We expect her to provide us with more depth and for her to be a lock-down defender. Her best basketball is ahead of her."

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Amanda Pollard
5-9     Guard
Champlin, MN / Champlin Park High School

*Amanda Pollard is a versatile combo guard with excellent size and court awareness

*Helped lead the Rebels to a 21-7 record as a junior in 2016-17

*Averaged 8.1 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game

*Also competed on a well-regarded Minnesota Metro Stars AAU Team

*Has the ability to rebound, push the ball and find open teammates

*Possesses solid shooting range

Coach Jacobs on Amanda Pollard:
"Amanda is a dynamic guard that can do multiple things. She will play different positions for us and she has the ability to make others around her better. "

Next Game
The Green & White are next in action on Friday, December 29 when they open NEC play at Bryant in a noon tip-off. Following the Seahawks-Bulldogs contest, Wagner is back at it two days later, in a 1:00 p.m. New Year's Eve matchup at Central Connecticut.