WATCH | Live Stats | Game Notes
Riverdale, NY – The Wagner women's basketball team will begin the 2022-23 season at Manhattan College.
Dominant Dress Rehearsal
The Seahawks took care of Canadian school Humber College on Saturday, October 29 with a 97-34 victory at the Spiro Sports Center.
Graduate student
Zhaneia Thybulle and redshirt junior
Alex Cowan led the Wagner with 18 points each. Thybulle dished out a team-leading five assists to go along with five rebounds.
Every player on the Seahawks contributed on the scoresheet while eight players scored at least five points.
Preseason Favorite
The Wagner women's basketball team was predicted to finish first in the Northeast Conference (NEC) annual preseason poll.
Selected by the league's head coaches as the 2022-23 preseason favorite, Wagner has its sights set on claiming the NEC title, a feat that has only occurred just one other time in 1989.
It marked the first time in 30-plus years that the Seahawks earned No. 1 preseason status.
The Seahawks, who came short of reaching the NEC Championship a year ago after falling in the semifinals, earned five first-place votes to secure the moniker of "preseason favorite".
Behind Wagner is FDU, who received three first-place votes while St. Francis Brooklyn checked in third in the preseason poll. Behind the Terriers is Saint Francis U, who received one first-place vote.
Rounding out the rest of the preseason poll is Merrimack, Sacred Heart, LIU, Central Connecticut State and Stonehill.
Wagner has been knocking on the doorstep of the NEC title the last few seasons, led by second-year head coach
Terrell Coburn.
Zhaneia Thybulle Earns Preseason NEC Honors
After being named Third Team All-NEC last season,
Zhaneia Thybulle was named to the preseason All-Conference team. The Elmont, NY native dished out five or more assists 16 times last season and had a pair of 11-assist outings to add to her resumé.
Last season, Thybulle averaged 10.1 points per game, 4.8 rebounds per game, 5.1 assists per game, 1.4 steals for game and a 40.6% field goal percentage.
Thybulle's assist average and her 144 assists were tops in the NEC last season.
The Returners
The Seahawks are in prime position to live up to their preseason expectations. The returning core – which includes the likes of
Zhaneia Thybulle,
Alex Cowan, fifth year senior
Kem Nwabudu and senior
Drayah Heyward.
The Seahawks also welcome back NEC All-Rookie selection
Lina Loceniece.
The Seahawks return four players that made at least 20 starts last season and seven players who appeared in at least 20 games last season.
Among the veteran returners is
Drayah Heyward, who led all NEC players with 2.3 steals per game and a total of 64 on the season.
The Newcomers
Wagner will welcome five newcomers to the 2022-23 roster, including three transfers and two freshmen.
Among the transfers are sophomore Brittney-Shaina Etuka,
Julia Fabozzi and
Cyan Dyke.
Brittney Shaina Etuka comes to Wagner after spending one season at the University of Hartford. The Brampton, Ontario native appeared in 14 games for Hartford.
Julia Fabozzi comes to Grymes Hill after spending two years at Providence College.
The Staten Island, NY native appeared in 28 games for the Friars while averaging 2.0 points and 6.0 rebounds per game.
Cyan Dyke comes to Wagner after spending two seasons at Furman University as she appeared in 11 games at Furman in two seasons.
Malia Mpondo and Angelie Ricard round out the newcomers for the Seahawks as the two freshmen on the roster.
Defensive Mindset
Last season, the Seahawks were first in the NEC in three-point field goal % against at 26.1%. Nationally the Seahawks ranked 10th in three-point field goal % against.
The Seahawks were also first in steals with 248 and steals per game with 8.6
Wagner was also second in scoring defensive while allowing 58.2 points per contest. That mark put them 59th in the nation.
The Seahawks were second in the conference in turnover margin at +2.79. That mark put Wagner at 63rd in the nation.
Wagner was third in the NEC with 3.2 blocks per contest while ranking 29th with 19.21 turnovers forced per game. Wagner's 9.0 steals per game put them 74th in the nation. A 38.0 field goal % defense put them 88th.
The Schedule
The 12-game non-conference slate features seven road games and five games at the Spiro Sports Center.
Wagner's first official home game is slated for November 13 against Brown before Wagner hits the road on November 16 against Maryland Eastern Shore and Fordham on November 20.
After the two-game road trip, Wagner will welcome Hofstra on November 26 and Saint Peter's on December 1.
On December 5 the Seahawks will travel to New Hampshire before traveling to Syracuse on December 11.
The Seahawks' final non-conference home game will be against NJIT on December 17 before Wagner wraps up its non-conference slate at St. John's on December 21.
Wagner's 16-game NEC slate will begin on January 2 at Saint Francis U in Loretto, PA.
What's Next
The Seahawks will continue non-conference play when they travel to New Rochelle, NY to take on Iona on Thursday, November 10 at 7:00 P.M.
