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EmilijaKristaGrava
Dave Saffran
89
Saint Peter's SP 1-1,0-0 MAAC
90
Winner Wagner WC 1-2,0-0 NEC
Saint Peter's SP
1-1,0-0 MAAC
89
Final
90
Wagner WC
1-2,0-0 NEC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Saint Peter's SP 26 18 25 20 89
Wagner WC 19 21 21 29 90

Game Recap: Women's Basketball |

Krista Grava's Last Second Bucket Propels Wagner To A 90-89 Come-From-Behind Victory In Home Opener Over Saint Peter's

Krista Grava finishes with a career-high 45 points and adds 11 rebounds; Junior Khaleah Edwards nets first career double-double with 22 points and 12 rebounds

Pictured Above: Sophomore Emilija Krista Grava (Credit: Dave Saffran)

Box Score | Box Score (HTML)





 
Staten Island, NY - Facing a one-point deficit, 89-88 with 2.4 seconds left, redshirt junior guard Morgan Lenahan lofted the inbounds pass high over a Saint Peter's defender to sophomore forward Emilija Krista Grava, who pulled down the ball, spun and rattled home what turned out to be the game-winner as the Wagner College women's basketball defeated the Peaheans, 90-89, on Wednesday evening in Wagner's home opener at the Spiro Sports Center. 
 

Krista Grava put on a shooting clinic in tonight's contest, going for a new career-high 45 points, 21 of which coming in the first half, on 21-of-33 (63.6%) shooting from the field while pulling down 11 rebounds in recording her second career double-double. For the second-year forward from Ligatne, Latvia, the 45-point outburst surpasses her previous best of 20, set just a week ago at then-ranked No. 4/5 Maryland.
 

In addition to Krista Grava's career evening, the Seahawks got a boost from junior Khaleah Edwards, who poured in a new-career best, 22 points, on 8-of-11 from the field and hitting on 4-of-5 from long range. The London, England natvie also notched her first career double-double, concluding with a game-best 12 caroms in the victory. 

Five Peahens notched double-figures, led by Taiah Thornton, who led the way for the visitors with 17 points. Gabrielle Harris chipped in 16 points to go along with four rebounds and four steals.  Briyanah Richardson & Kendrea Williams each concluded the contest with 11 points apiece while Yamel Abreu rounded out the quintet with ten points.


The Basics
  • Records: Wagner 1-2 (0-0 NEC) | Saint Peter's 1-1 (0-0 MAAC)
  • Series History: Saint Peter's now leads the series 11-6
 
How It Happened

First Quarter
  • Thornton scored the first points of the contest before the Seahawks sparked a 7-0 run as Krista Grava and senior Jordan Hobson were the catalyst. 
  • The visitors over a 5:36 stretch, erupted on a 16-6 run of its own, in claiming an 18-13 lead before Krista Grava stopped the run with a jumper off the feed from Amanda Pollard. 
  • Saint Peter's closed out the first frame scoring eight of the final 12 points in taking a 26-19 lead after the first. 
  • Krista Grava led the Seahawks with 12 points on 6-of-7 shooting. 

 
Second Quarter
  • Wagner opened the second quarter on a 6-0 run as Krista Grava hit a jumper and Hobson followed with a shot off-the-feed from sophomore Raven Pitt as the Seahawks trailed by three, 26-25 
  • SPU was able to regain the lead, 33-30, on a Thornton three from Richardson at the 5:04 mark. 
  • The two teams went back-and-forth for the remainder of the frame, with the visitors clinging to a four-point halftime advantage, 44-40. 
  • At this venture, Krista Grava had 21 points while Edwards chipped in 11, to go along with eight rebounds. 

Third Quarter
  • Both teams were fairly even for much of the third quarter, as over a four and half minute stretch, the Peahens outscored Wagner, 13-11, with the visitors holding a 57-51 lead thanks to a Harris jumper. 
  • For the third, the Peahens outscored the Seahawks, 25-21, and held an eight-point lead, 69-61, heading into the final frame.
  • Krista Grava paved the way with eight points in the frame, giving her 29 through three while Morgan Lenahan and newcomer, Drayah Heyward added five apiece. 
 
Fourth Quarter
  • In what turned out to be a wild finish, Saint Peter's was still ahead, 74-69, at the 7:01 mark. 
  • The Seahawks began to stage a furious comeback, as Edwards first hit on a three that tied the game at 7 and put the Green & White ahead, 79-77, as Edwards drew the contact on Zoe Pero and was able to bank in the layup, off the feed following a steal by reigning Northeast Conference (NEC) Rookie of the Week, Alex Cowan. 
  • The baskets were part of a larger 10-3 run by Wagner in regaining the lead. 
  • Thornton was fouled attempting a three-pointer and converted at the line which tied the game at 80. 
  • Krista Grava once again came up big for Wagner, as she converted on a craft layup from Lenahan that gave the Seahawks a brief, 82-80.
  • On the ensuing Saint Peter's possession, Thornton drilled a three that gave the visitors a one-point advantage. 
  • Following a missed layup from Heyward, Krista Grava worked diligently in corralling the loose ball and converted on the putback as the home team reclaimed the lead, 84-83, with 2:25 to go.
  • In the midst of this seesaw final, Pero put SPU ahead, 85-84 before Krista Grava netted her 43rd point of the contest as the Seahawks led 86-85 with 2:03 remaining. 
  • Edwards soared the hoop following a miss by Pero and an offensive rebound by Krista Grava, which gave the Seahawks an 88-85 advantage. 
  • Richardson was able to hit the jumper on the next offensive possession and Wil'lisha Jackson's jumper with 17 ticks showing on the clock gave Saint Peter's an 89-88, setting the stage for Krista Grava's dramatic finish. 
  • The Seahawks took a full timeout. 
  • Edwards missed a three-pointer and the scrum along the baseline favored the Seahawks as the ball deflected off a Saint Peter's player. 
  • With 2.4 seconds showing on the game-clock, Lenahan inbounded the ball high over the defender as Krista Grava was able to secure it and in one move, put up a shot and it rattled in, sending the Seahawk bench and fans into a frenzy. 
  • Following a review, the officials put 0.4 on the game clock, as Richardson's last-second heave banked off the backboard as the Seahawk hung on for the win. 
 
Inside the Numbers
  • The 45 points scored by Krista Grava marks the first time since December 18, 2015, in which former Seahawk standout, Jasmine Nwajei hit for the same mark at home against Stony Brook. 
  • Additionally, Krista Grava's performance elevates her into a tie with Nwajei for third-place on the Wagner single-game scoring list. 
  • Also, Krista Grava's spectacular game comes on the heels of another home contest, as, on Tuesday evening, in the Wagner men's home opener, graduate transfer Curtis Cobb III went for 40 points against Wesley.
  • The duo of Krista Grava and Edwards, who combined for 67 of the team's 90 points, combined to shoot 29-of-44 from the field (65.9%), 5-of-7 from three-point range and grabbed a combined 23 rebounds, 13 on the offensive side. 
  • The 21 field goals made from EKG is a new single-game high in program history.
  • Her 33 attempts are now tied for ninth most in a single-contest with Nwajei, who had a two games with 33 attempts, the last coming on the road at Sacred Heart (1/11/16). 
  • The 90 points are a season-high and marks the first time since eclipsing the feat in going for 92 against Mount St. Mary's back on January 19, winning 92-76. 
 
 Who's Next?
  • Wagner remains home as they will host America East members, UMBC, on Saturday afternoon from the Spiro Sports Center.
  • Tipoff is slated for 1:00 p.m. 
  • Keith Raad will have the call on NEC Front Row. 

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Wagner Athletics 23863  23865  23866  23867
Women's Basketball:  23863  23865
Head Coach Heather Jacobs: 23863
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