Smithfield, RI - The Wagner College women's basketball team shot 61.5 percent to start the game while withstanding a late Bryant surge as the Seahawks earned a 58-45 wire-to-wire triumph over the Bulldogs on Monday evening from the Chace Athletic Center.
Sophomore
Emilija Krista Grava, fresh off her 35-point outburst at Central Connecticut, led the way for the visitors with 18 points, 12 of which coming in the final period, on 6 of 10 shooting from the floor.
Additionally, the second-year forward grabbed seven rebounds in 26 minutes of action.
Redshirt senior guard
Janelle Mullen tallied 13 points while making three key three-pointers in 30 minutes of play. Junior
Khaleah Edwards added nine points while redshirt junior guard
Morgan Lenahan grabbed a team-leading eight boards in the victory.
Bryant was led by Sydney Holloway, who filled the stat-sheet in recording a double-double in finishing with 14 points and 10 rebounds in 33 minutes. Holloway had a game-high five steals while adding an assist and a block in the setback.
Kandis Taylor chipped in nine points while Masey Zegarowski tallied seven points.
The Basics
- Records: Wagner (7-12; 3-5 NEC) | Bryant (5-13; 3-4 NEC)
- Series History: Bryant now leads the head-to-head series, 17-3
How It Happened:
First Quarter
- The Seahawks got off to a fast start as Edwards drilled a three-point just five seconds into the contest, which ignited a 7-0 run and forcing the Bulldogs to call for time.
- Bryant's first basket came at the 6:34 mark of the frame as Gallagher converted on the layup.
- The Seahawks then posted an 8-3 burst to up its lead to 15-5 after Mullen hit her second three of the quarter.
- Cowan scored the final point of the period as Wagner held a 20-9 lead after one.
- The Green & White shot a blistering 61.5 percent from the floor in the opening period while holding the Bulldogs to just 25.0 percent.
Second Quarter
- Katrice Jackson was able to grab the loose ball and put back the miss for the first points of the second quarter in giving Wagner a 22-9 edge.
- The Seahawks scored eight of the next 13 points over four minutes in creating a 30-14 lead following a pair of makes at the line from junior Alayshia Dailey.
- Both teams struggled down the stretch of the frame, with Wagner only hitting on 1 of 6 and Bryant held without a made field goal over a near four and a half minute span but the Bulldogs hit on 5 of 6 from the line as they trailed 33-19 heading into the break.
Third Quarter
- With a little over three minutes left in the period, the Bulldogs sparked a 6-0 run to cut the deficit to 38-28 following Taylor's layup that was promptly answered by a Krista Grava jumper.
- The Bulldogs found themselves down eight, 40-32 after Taylor once again found the goal.
Fourth Quarter
- Despite both teams struggling to find their offensive rhythm in the final period, Bryant was able to further trim Wagner's lead after Taylor made the backend of a two-shot foul, 40-33, nearly a minute into the period.
- The Seahawks sparked a 14-1 run over the next 5:25 to take a 54-34 lead with 1:09 left in regulation.
- Bryant staged one final run, outscoring Wagner 11-4 down-the-stretch in which the Bulldogs forced five Seahawk turnovers in just 54 seconds but Wagner hung on for its first road win of the season.
Inside The Numbers
- Tonight's win snapped a 12-game road losing streak, dating back to last season when the Seahawks defeated Fairleigh Dickinson, 60-44, back on February 23 in Teaneck, NJ.
- The 11-point first-quarter lead by Wagner (20-9) ties a season-high as the Green & White were up 11 (28-17) on St. Francis Brooklyn earlier this month.
- For the sixth time this season, Wagner has outrebounded their opponents, holding a 39-36 edge on the glass.
- Both teams netted 20 points inside-the-paint
- After shooting 61.5 percent from the field in the opening quarter, the Seahawks defense held Bryant to just 23.8 percent in the first half and just 10.0 percent (1 of 10) from long range in the opening half.
- Opening Statement
- " I am proud of our effort and ability to bounce back and get a road win. Every game in this conference is important and I think it was a little more evident today."
- Coach Jacobs on Seahawks First-Quarter Hot Shooting
- "We have some kids that can knock down shots and they knew that we had to bounce back and be aggressive on both sides of the ball tonight and they did that."
- Coach Jacobs on what stood out the most in tonight's contest
- "Everybody contributed. If they played 30 minutes or zero minutes, everybody was focused and locked into the game."
Next Up:
- The Seahawks embark on a three-game homestand, starting on Monday, February 3, as the Green & White host Fairleigh Dickinson.
- Tipoff from the Spiro Sports Center is set for 7:00 p.m.
