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Women's Basketball

Women's Basketball Squares Off Against Mount St. Mary's In NEC Championship This Sunday

Seahawks looking for the program's second league championship and first-ever trip to the NCAA

 

Wagner College Women's Basketball Game Information

Game 19 |
NEC Championship

No. 2 Wagner College Seahawks (13-5; 12-4 NEC) @
No. 1 Mount St. Mary's University Mountaineers (16-6; 14-4 NEC) 

Date | Time

Sunday, March 14 | 2:00 PM 

Location

Emmitsburg, MD | Knott Arena 
CoVID-19 Protocol Per the Northeast Conference, No Spectator Policy
"As the Northeast Conference prepares to host championships in the months of February, March and early April, it has announced it will not permit any spectators to attend the following NEC Championships: Men's and Women's Cross Country, Men's and Women's Basketball, Women's Bowling, Women's Volleyball, and Men's and Women's Swimming & Diving.
*No fans will be permitted to be in attendance.* 
Game Notes Wagner | Mount St. Mary's

Where To View

March 14, 2021 | ESPNU |  ESPN3 | Live Stats
Talent Roy Philpott  (Play-by-Play) 
Brooke Weisbrod (Analyst)
NEC Tournament Headquarters
NECBBT
Social Media Twitter: @WagnerWHoops, @WagnerAthletics
Instagram: @wagnerwhoops
 
Emmitsburg, MD  - With a trip to the 2021 NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Tournament up for grabs, the No. 2 seed Wagner College Seahawks travel to top-seeded Mount St. Mary's on Sunday to determine this year's Northeast Conference (NEC) tournament champion. 

SETTING THE SCENE...

  • Sunday's NEC championship appearance is Wagner's first time back in the finals since the 1999-00 season.
  •  The Seahawks will be looking for the program's second league title after claiming the 1988-89 championship as the top-seed, defeating the No. 2 seed, Robert Morris, 66-60.
  • Should Wagner claim this year's title, it will mark the program's first-ever trip to the NCAA's.
  • The Green & White are looking to be the first No. 2 seed to prevail in the finals since 2008 when Robert Morris defeated Long Island University, 86.75. 
  • The Mount is looking for its fourth league championship and first, since 1995, where they defeated the No. 2 seed, Saint Francis U, 80-61, at Knott Arena. 
  • Sunday's NEC Championship will be televised in front of a national audience on ESPNU at 2:00 p.m. and also streamed on ESPN3 on the Watch ESPN app. 
All-Time Series vs. Mount St. Mary's
Series History Mount St. Mary's leads 47-19
Streak Wagner, Won 2
First Meeting January 6, 1987 | Mount St. Mary's 88, Wagner 58 |
at Wagner
Last Meeting March 5, 2021 | Mount St. Mary's 68, Wagner 73 (2OT) |
at Wagner 
Wagner Most Recent Win March 5, 2021 | Mount St. Mary's 68, Wagner 73 (2OT) |
at Wagner 
Wagner Home Record vs.
Mount St. Mary's		 11-21
Wagner Road Record vs.
Mount St. Mary's		 7-26
Wagner Neutral Record vs.
Mount St. Mary's		 1-0
Wagner Longest Win Streak Won 3 (2x), last February 4, 2010 to February 12, 2011
Opponent Longest Win Streak Won 13, February 14, 2011 to January 27, 2018
TOURNAMENT TIDBITS...
  • In the NEC Tournament, this will be just the fourth time these two programs have met as the last time they squared off, back in 2013-2014, Mount St. Mary's, the No. 2 seed, defeated the Seahawks, the No. 7 seed, 75-66 in the NEC quarterfinals. 
  • These two teams are meeting in the league championship for the first time. 

SERIES BREAKDOWN AGAINST THE MOUNTAINEERS...
  • These two teams are no strangers to one another, as Wagner and Mount St. Mary's closed out the 2020-21 NEC regular season with a two-game series back on March 4-5 at the Spiro Sports Center. 
  • The Seahawks took both games of the series, which propelled them to the No. 2 seed in this year's NEC Tournament. 
 
KRISTA GRAVA TABBED TO ALL-NEC FIRST TEAM FOR SECOND STRAIGHT SEASON...
  • Junior Emilija Krista Grava was named to the 2020-21 All-Northeast Conference (NEC) First Team, the league announced on Monday afternoon.
  • For Krista Grava, this marks the second straight year she has garnered a spot on the league's First Team. She becomes the fifth Seahawk in program history to garner multiple First Team distinctions, joining the following players: Jasmine Nwajei 2014-15 | 2015-16; Nia Ryan 1998-99 | 1999-00; Chris Anderson 1989-90 | 1991-92; Cynthia Quinlan 1988-89 | 1989-90.
  • The junior forward finished 2020-21 among the top-ten in the conference at 15.1 points per game while converting on 46.2 percent from the field.
  • Additionally, she finished the season in the top-15 in rebounding, pulling down 5.9 caroms per contest.
  • In conference-only games, Krista Grava averaged 14.9 points while hitting on 47.8 percent from the floor and shooting 75.6 percent from the free-throw line (34 of 45).
  • For the season, Krista Grava scored in double-figures 14 times and notched two double-doubles, the last coming at home against Central Connecticut State (3/1/21), as she finished with 13 points and 11 rebounds.

 
ALL-TIME WAGNER WOMEN'S BASKETBALL ALL-NEC FIRST TEAM SELECTIONS...
Emilija Krista Grava | 2019-20, 2020-21
Sierra Clark | 2017-18 
Jasmine Nwajei | 2014-15, 2015-16
Carrie Walker | 2002-03
Meredith Kerns | 2001-02
Nia Ryan | 1998-99, 1999-00
Susan Moffat | 1997-98
Amanda Young | 1996-97
Jenny Frazier | 1994-95
Chris Anderson  | 1989-90, 1991-92
Stacey Morris | 1990-91
Sherry Morris | 1990-91
Cynthia Quinlan | 1988-89, 1989-90
 

SCOUTING MOUNT ST. MARY'S... 
  • The Mountaineers clinched its first regular-season title since 2000-01 when they defeated the Saint Francis U Red Flash, 56-43, at DeGol Arena back on March 1st. It marked the tenth regular-season trophy in the program's history. 
  • Mount St. Mary's took three of the five major NEC awards this season, as Kendall Bresee was named the league's Player and Defensive Player of the Year. 
  • Bresee finished the regular season among the conference's top-four leaders in scoring average (fourth), rebounding (second), assists (fourth), steals (second), and double-doubles (t-first). She also ranked sixth overall in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.2). 
  • Mount St. Mary's head coach Maria Marchesano was named the Brenda Reilly NEC Coach of the Year. 
  • Marchesano's Mountaineers paced the circuit in several team statistical categories – scoring offense, scoring margin, rebounding margin, field goal percentage, free throw percentage, three-point field goal percentage, and assist-to-turnover ratio.
 
EKG CLOSING IN ON 1,000 CAREER POINTS... 
  • Entering Sunday's championship contest with Mount St. Mary's, junior forward and All-NEC First Teamer, Emilija Krista Grava, is approaching a career milestone, as she stands at 925 career points. 
  • When she eclipses the 1,000 career point mark, she will be the 25th player in program history to do so.
WORKING DOUBLE-TIME...
  • The Seahawks closed out the 2020-21 regular season with a 73-68 double-overtime victory over the regular-season champions, Mount St. Mary's, on March 5. 
  • It marked the first time that Wagner has won a double-overtime game since January 30, 1999, when the Seahawks outlasted former NEC league member, Monmouth, 90-85. 

SHARING THE ROCK...
  • In the double-overtime victory against the Mount, the Seahawks, collectively, dished out a season-high 22 assists in the win. 
  • Junior guard Zhaneia Thybulle distributed a career-best 12 helpers in the victory.
  • The 12 assists by Thybulle is a league-high for the season and ranks among the top-20 totals in the entire NCAA.
  • The last time a Seahawk delivered 10 or more assists was back on January 19, 2019, when senior Alayshia Dailey handed out 11 helpers against the Mountaineers. 
  • Thybulle finished the regular season tied with SFBK's Nevena Dimitrijevic for the conference lead in assists at 5.0 per game. 
 
SEAHAWKS LAST TEN GAMES...
  • Wagner is 7-3 over the last ten games. 
  • The Seahawks are outscoring the opposition, 62.0 ppg to 59.4 (+2.6 scoring margin).
  • The Green & White are a +3.5 in turnover margin, forcing 19.9 turnovers over the last ten games. 
  • Over the last ten games, Wagner has averaged 15.7  assists per game while holding the opposition to 10.5 helpers. 
  • Krista Grava and senior wing Khaleah Edwards are both averaging in double-figures over the last ten, led by EKG, who is pouring in 15.4 ppg and grabbing 5.8 rpg in 28.7 minutes. She is also shooting 45.9 percent from the floor and 84.4 percent from the line. 
  • Edwards is netting 11.0 ppg while connecting on 45.1 percent from the field and 93.3 percent from the line. 

 
FAST FIVE...
  • The Seahawks are 5-0 over the last five games and are averaging 69.8 points during this span. 
  • Three Wagner players are tallying double-figures over this span, led by Krista Grava's 17.2 ppg. Edwards is next at 11.8 points per game while converting on 51.2 percent from the floor in 28.8 minutes. 
  • Kem Nwabudu rounds out the scoring trio at 10.2 ppg while hitting on 50.0 percent from the field and pulling down 5.2 rebounds.
  • Classmate Zhaneia Thybulle is averaging 6.8 apg over her last five. 
  • As a whole, Wagner is shooting 46.3 percent from the field and 43.1 percent from three-point range. 

 
WAGNER WIN-LOSS COMPARISON...
  • In Wagner's 13 victories this season, three players are averaging in double-figures: Krista Grava (15.5 ppg), Khaleah Edwards (11.4 ppg), and Kem Nwabudu (10.7 ppg). 
  • Wagner is outscoring the opposition, 65.2 ppg to 56.2 ppg (+9.0 scoring margin) and shooting 44.1 percent from the field. 
  • The Seahawks are forcing 20.2 turnovers in the 13 wins this season (+2.8 turnover margin).
  • On-the-other-hand, in the Seahawks' five setbacks this season, Krista Grava is the lone Seahawk to tally double-figures, averaging 11.2 ppg while hitting on 41.1 percent from the field and pulling down 5.2 rebounds.
  • Khaleah Edwards (8.8 ppg, 4.6 rpg) and Nwabudu (7.3 ppg and 5.8 rpg), along with Zhaneia Thybulle (7.0 ppg, 3.5 apg, 2.3 rpg) follow Krista Grava. 

 
TOP TEN SEAHAWK SEASON...
  • At 13-5 overall, the Seahawks produced a .722 winning percentage.
  • All-time, this mark is currently the sixth-best in Wagner history.
Coach Year Record Win Percentage
Pat Bramwell 1973-74 13-0 1.000
Pat Bramwell 1974-75 12-4 .875
Gela Mikalauskas 1983-84 24-5 .828
Pat Bramwell 1972-73 11-3 .786
Gela Mikalauskas 1988-89 22-7 .759
HEATHER JACOBS 2020-21 13-5 .722
Gela Mikalauskas 1983-84 20-10 .667
Pam Roecker 1996-97 18-10 .643
Gela Mikalauskas 1985-86 18-10 .643
Gela Mikalauskas 1987-88 18-11 .621
Pam Roecker 1997-98 17-12 .586

HALF THE BATTLE...
  • This season, Wagner is averaging 28.8 ppg in the first half of the contest, shooting 42.2 percent from the field, 33.6 percent from three-point range, and converting on 62.8 percent from the line. 
  • Krista Grava is leading the way, tallying 8.2 ppg in the opening 20 minutes. 
  • In the second half, Wagner ups its scoring production to 30.1 ppg while hitting on 40.8 percent from the field, 29.7 percent from beyond-the-arc, and hitting on 69.3 percent from the free-throw line. 
  • Krista Grava and Edwards are both averaging 6.0 points in the second half. 
 
SEAHAWK TIDBITS...
  • In the semifinal victory over Saint Francis U, the Seahawks shot 54.9 percent from the field (28 of 51), setting a new program NEC Tournament high. The previous benchmark was 50.0 percent (26 of 52), against Rider back on March 7, 1995. 
  • Additionally, the 28 made field goals against the Red Flash marked the fourth time in program history that Wagner has done, first since March 2, 2002, against Monmouth. 
  • In Wagner's season series sweep of Mount St. Mary's, the Seahawks outscored the Mountaineers, 73-65. Three Seahawks averaged double digits, led by Krista Grava, who poured in 25.0 ppg. Edwards chipped in 17.0 ppg while Nwabudu tallied 12.5 ppg and a team-leading 6.0 rpg.
  • Zhaneia Thybulle averaged 9.0 apg against the Mountaineers, which included a career-best 12 helpers in the finale. 
  • Wagner is 12-2 this season when dishing out more assists than their opponents.
  • When Krista Grava leads the team in scoring, Wagner is 10-3 this season.
  • When Kem Nwabudu leads the team in rebounding, Wagner is 7-1 this year.
  • Combined, Wagner is 14-3 when Krista Grava and Nwabudu lead the team in blocks. 
  • When Thybulle paces the team in assists, Wagner is 8-4 this season. 
  • When Alayshia Dailey leads the Seahawks in assists, the Green & White are 5-1.
  • When Kate Tokuhara leads the team in steals, Wagner is 6-1.
  • The Green & White posted eight home wins for the second straight season, finishing 2020-21 at 8-2 at the Spiro Sports Center. 
  • As a team, Wagner is 12-2 this year when they dish out more assists than their opponents. 
  • Wagner posted a 10-2 record when the opponents created more turnovers. 
  • Wagner is 10-1 shooting above 40.0% from the field this year.
  • The Seahawks are 10-1 when hitting above the 30.0 percent mark from three-point range and 9-2 when holding opponents under 30.0 percent from long distance. 
  • Wagner moved to 5-0 on the year when scoring 70 or points this season. \
  • Wagner is 9-3 when swiping more steals than the opposition.
  • The Green & White is 4-0 in March, outscoring their opponents, 70.2 to 61.0 (+9.3 scoring margin) 
  • Krista Grava (16.3 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 43.3% FG) leads the team in scoring following by Edwards (13.0 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 52.8% FG) and Nwabudu (11.3 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 50% FG). 
  • Tokuhara has chipped in 9.0 ppg while shooting a team-high 68.2 percent from the field this month in 26.5 minutes off-the-bench. 
  • In the final five minutes of the contest, Wagner is shooting 34.3 percent from the field while limiting the opponents to just 29.9 shooting from the floor and 13.3 percent (4-30) from long range.

 
UP NEXT...
  • The winner of Sunday's championship game between Wagner and Mount St. Mary's will wait to hear their name called on Monday, March 15 as part of the 2021 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament Selection Show. 
  • The announcement of the 64 teams, who will all compete in San Antonio, TX, will broadcast live on ESPN at 7:00 p.m. 
Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Sierra Clark

#30 Sierra Clark

F
6' 0"
Fifth Year
Alayshia Dailey

#10 Alayshia Dailey

G
5' 8"
Senior
Khaleah Edwards

#22 Khaleah Edwards

G/F
5' 8"
Senior
Emilija Krista Grava

#24 Emilija Krista Grava

F
6' 0"
Junior
Kem Nwabudu

#15 Kem Nwabudu

F
5' 11"
Junior
Kate Tokuhara

#44 Kate Tokuhara

G
5' 10"
Graduate Student
Zhaneia Thybulle

#2 Zhaneia Thybulle

G
5' 7"
Junior

Players Mentioned

Sierra Clark

#30 Sierra Clark

6' 0"
Fifth Year
F
Alayshia Dailey

#10 Alayshia Dailey

5' 8"
Senior
G
Khaleah Edwards

#22 Khaleah Edwards

5' 8"
Senior
G/F
Emilija Krista Grava

#24 Emilija Krista Grava

6' 0"
Junior
F
Kem Nwabudu

#15 Kem Nwabudu

5' 11"
Junior
F
Kate Tokuhara

#44 Kate Tokuhara

5' 10"
Graduate Student
G
Zhaneia Thybulle

#2 Zhaneia Thybulle

5' 7"
Junior
G

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