Tonight's game marks the 84th all-time meeting between the schools and LIU Brooklyn holds a 48-35 lead in the all-time series, which includes the Blackbirds' 74-69 win back on January 13.
Former D-II All-American Clark Getting It Done in D-I
After posting team highs with 12 points and 10 rebounds in Saturday's defensive-minded win over St. Francis Brooklyn, Clark, who was recruited to and played for Wagner head coach
Heather Jacobs at Adelphi University where she went on to earn Division II All-American honors last season, is now averaging 18.5 points and 9.8 rebounds per game. In 21 games overall, Clark has a total of 12 double-doubles, ten 20-point-plus games, two 30-point plus games, and 19 double-digit scoring efforts to her credit. In Wagner's 10 NEC games, the graduate student averages 20.5 points and 11.6 rebounds per outing. Her 11 double-doubles entering the week ranked 10th in all of Division I according to NCAA.com.
Last Time Out:
*Redshirt freshman guard
Morgan Lenahan knocked down a three-point jumper with 24 seconds left to play and the Wagner women's basketball team forced St. Francis Brooklyn into a rushed three-pointer, which was off the mark, as the Seahawks held on for a 50-47 victory over St. Francis Brooklyn on Saturday afternoon at the Spiro Sports Center.
*With the win, Wagner snapped an eight-game losing streak in improving to 4-17 on the season, 2-8 in Northeast Conference (NEC) play. The Terriers fall to 8-13 overall and 4-6 in league.
*In gaining the win, the Seahawks avenged an 80-76 loss at St. Francis Brooklyn back on January 15.
*Fifth-year senior forward
Sierra Clark paced Wagner with 12 points and 10 rebounds in recording her 12
th double-double of the season. Entering Saturday's game, the 5-11 Maryland native ranked No. 11 nationally in double-doubles.
*Redshirt freshman forward
Taylah Simmons also hit for double figures, finishing with 11 points, to go with five rebounds, three steals and two assists while Lenahan and junior guard
Nakyila Carter added nine points apiece for the Seahawks.
*After taking a 23-22 halftime lead in this defensive tussle, the Green & White narrowly outscored the Terriers 16-14 in the third quarter, which was capped by a Clark three-pointer at the buzzer as Wagner took a 39-36 lead into the fourth.
*The final frame was a nip-and-tuck affair, much like the first three quarters as the biggest separation was a four-point, 42-38 Wagner lead following a Carter three-ball with 8:17 left. The Terriers took their final lead of the game at 46-44 after a pair of free throws from Amy O'Neill with 4:53 left.
*That's the way the score remained until Clark hit 1-of-2 from the line with 1:58 left to draw Wagner to within one point at 47-46. On SFBK's ensuing possession, Jade Johnson was fouled with 1:36 left to play and, after missing her first try, she sank the second to forge the game's ninth and final tie at 47-47.
*After each team missed contested layups, Wagner called timeout with 44 seconds left. Following the inbounds, the Seahawks patiently worked the ball around the perimeter until Russell found an open Lenahan just to the right of the top of the top of the key, and the 5-11 guard from South Jersey did the rest, nailing the clutch three-pointer to put Wagner ahead by a 50-47 count.
*After St. Francis Brooklyn called a timeout with 18 seconds left, the Terriers struggled against Wagner's half-court defensive set, having to settle for a tightly-contested three-point try by Alex Delaney which was off the mark. SFBK's Samantha Keltos grabbed the offensive rebound but was unable to make the putback as Clark came away the rebound with just 3.6 seconds to play.
*After Wagner called its final timeout, the Seahawks were able to inbound the ball and dribble out the final three ticks in securing the win.
Second Meeting of Season
January 13, 2018
LIU Brooklyn 74, Wagner 69
Brooklyn, NY / Steinberg Wellness Center
*When the Seahawks and Blackbirds meet, Wagner will be looking to avenge a tough January 13 loss in Brooklyn when, trailing by 24 points late in the third quarter, the Seahawks staged a furious comeback before running out of time, falling 74-69 despite 34 points from fifth-year senior forward
Sierra Clark.
*Wagner, which trailed 40-28 at halftime, fell behind by a count of 60-36 with 2:52 left in the third quarter following a layup by LIU's Deangelique Waithe. The Seahawks then scored the final eight points of the quarter to make it a 60-44 game entering the fourth.
*In the final quarter, Wagner outscored the Blackbirds 25-12, which made it a 33-12 run overall, to draw within three at 72-69 with three seconds to play. The Green & White were forced to foul and Drew Winter knocked down a pair of free throws as LIU Brooklyn held on for the 74-69 win.
*For the game, the 5-11 Clark, a graduate student from Hughesville, MD, finished 14-of-22 from the floor while grabbing 10 rebounds. The Green & White were able to create all of this late-game excitement despite being without the services of redshirt freshman guard
Morgan Lenahan, as the Seahawks' second-leading scorer (9.3-point average) and top three-point shooter (27 made 3-pointers), was under the weather and unable to play.
*After falling behind by that 24-point, 60-36 deficit, Wagner outscored 8-0 over the final 2:32 of the third quarter, with four of those points coming on a pair of Clark layups. The other four points came on free throws as redshirt freshman guard
Taylah Simmons and junior guard
Nakylia Carter each went 2-for-2 from the charity stripe during this stretch.
*In the fourth quarter, it was all Wagner. In perhaps their best single quarter of the entire season, the Seahawks were led by Clark's 12 points, Carter and freshman guard
Alayshia Dailey accounted for five and four points, respectively over the 10 minutes, with Simmons and freshman guard
Khaleah Dixon-Edwards hitting for two apiece during the comeback.
*After LIU's Denisha Petty-Evans knocked down a 10-foot jumper to push the lead back to nine, at 66-57 with 3:55 left. The Seahawks then went on a furious 12-3 burst, with seven of those points coming from Clark, including a top-of-the-key three-pointer with three seconds to play which made it 72-69.
*A key to the Wagner comeback bid was the Seahawks' proficiency at the foul line as the Green & White went 18-of-25 from the charity stripe, good for a 72% clip, which is their third-best performance of the season. The 18 made free throws were a season high while the 25 free throw attempts were tied for the second-highest on the year. *
*Simmons wound up matching her then-career high with 15 points, including 7-of-8 accuracy from foul line. The 6-0 guard added eight rebounds, tied her career high with four assists while logging a full 40 minutes for the first time as well.
*Carter, meanwhile, another first-year Seahawk, had her best game of the season, finishing with a career-high nine points and dishing out four assists, which tie for a season best. The 5-8 junior college transfer from Oklahoma accomplished these numbers while playing a career-high 39 minutes.
Seahawks First NEC Opening Game Win In Six YearsThe Seahawks' 75-66 victory at Bryant on December 29 marked Wagner's first NEC-opening game win in six years, since December 3, 2011, when the Wagner topped St. Francis Brooklyn by a 49-45 count on Staten Island.
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