Wagner turned in its best offensive shooting performance of of the season, but Central Connecticut was able to break open a tie game in the final five minutes in outlasting the Seahawks by an 83-71 count in a high-tempo, back-and-forth contest that featured 12 lead changes and five ties on Monday night at the Spiro Sports Center. The Seahawks' two-game winning streak, which came over St. Francis Brooklyn (55-43) and at Fairleigh Dickinson (74-66), came to an end despite recording season highs in shooting (59.2%), and field goals made (29). With the win, CCSU improves to 9-14 on the season, 8-4 in Northeast Conference (NEC) play while Wagner falls to 3-20 overall and 2-10 in league. Wagner was led by a trio of freshmen as Corinn Baggs and five-time NEC Rookie of the Week Kerstie Phills scored 18 points apiece while classmate Kellie Crouch added 17 in accounting for 53 of the Seahawks' 71 points. For Baggs, the 18-point outing set a career high while Crouch's 17-point effort tied her career best. With her 18 points tonight, Phills has now hit for double digits in 13 straight games, including all 12 NEC contests, and 15 of her last 16 overall. Sophomore guard Julia McClure helped key the efficient offensive execution by distributing a career-high nine assists on the evening. Wagner shot a sizzling 80 percent from the floor in each of the first (12-of-15) and third quarters (8-of-10). The Blue Devils, however, were hot throughout from both three-point range (11-of-23, 47.8%) and the free throw line where they shot 28-of-34 (82.4%) overall, including 94.4% marksmanship from the charity stripe in the second half, sinking 17 of 18. Conversely, Wagner went to the line just 14 times on the evening of which the Seahawks made eight for a 57.1% showing while going 5-of-14 (35.7%) from beyond the arc.The Seahawks scored their highest point total in a quarter this season in getting out to a 30-25 lead after the opening 10 minutes and trailed 44-41 at the intermission with those 41 points marking a season-high output for a half. The Green & White opened the third quarter on a 16-8 binge en route to taking a 59-58 lead into the final quarter. Wagner then opened the fourth quarter on a 5-0 spurt in taking its biggest lead of the game of six, at 64-58, following a pair of free throws by junior guard Tanasia Russell with 8:14 left to play. The visitors then went on an 8-0 run, capped by an Aleah Epps jumper with 5:03 left, as the Blue Devils jumped back into the lead at 66-64. Phills answered with a driving, left-handed layup with 4:45 left in forging a 66-66 tie. Kiana Patterson then sank a pair of free throws with 4:28 to go, giving CCSU the lead for good at 68-66, triggering a game-ending 13-5 run to seal it. In addition to the freshmen trio's 53 points, Wagner received a 12-point outing from Russell while McClure and senior forward Jackie Dluhi added four and two points, respectively. Baggs, Phills and senior forward Taylor Butigian tied for game-high honors in the rebounding department with six boards apiece.

Kerstie Phills Earns Sixth NEC Rookie of the Week Honor
Somerset, NJ – For the sixth time this season, and fifth time in the last six weeks, Wagner freshman forward Kerstie Phills (Charlotte, NC / Charlotte), has been named the NEC Rookieof the Week, tying the Seahawk record for most rookie honors in a season. Phills' remarkably consistent and productive freshman season continued in the past week as she produced back-to-back 18-point performances, shooting her way into the Top 5 on the NEC scoring leader board. Already the league's top scoring freshman, Phills is averaging 16.2 in NEC games which ranks fourth in the league.  In overall scoring, Phills is up to 12.3 ppg., which ranks ninth. The 5-foot-9 Phills shot 53.6 percent from the field while averaging 18.0 points and 6.0 per contest. She powered Wagner to a 74-66 road win over Fairleigh Dickinson on Saturday, registering a game-high 18 points, six rebounds and two assists in 33 minutes of action in Hackensack. Phills accounted for eight of the team's first 15 points during the road victory. Her layup broke a 13-13 tie with 8:38 to go in the second quarter and the Seahawks led the rest of the way. Two days later, Phills poured in 16 points over the first three quarters as Wagner held a one-point edge over Central Connecticut with 10:00 to play. She finished with 18 points, on 8-for-13 shooting, and six rebounds in an eventual 83-71 setback.

Wagner All-Time vs. Robert Morris