WATCH | Live Stats | Game Notes
Staten Island, NY – The Wagner College women's basketball team will welcome Merrimack to the Spiro Sports Center on Friday, tip-off is scheduled for 3:00 pm.
Last Time Out
Wagner opened conference play with a 76-25 victory over Saint Francis U.
The win for Wagner was tied for the largest margin of victory in program history.
Graduate student
Zhaneia Thybulle led the way with 16 points, two rebounds, three assists and three steals.
Senior
Drayah Heyward chipped in 10 points to go along with two assists and three steals.
Zhaneia Thybulle Named NEC Prime Performer
As a result of her contribution against SFU,
Zhaneia Thybulle earned her third NEC Prime Performer honor of the season.
Thybulle also ranks 67th in the nation in assists.
Home Sweet Home
Wagner is currently riding a three-game winning streak at the Spiro Sports Center after wins over Hofstra, Saint Peter's and NJIT.
Through the winning streak, the Seahawks are holding opponents to 57.3 points per game as the Green & White are averaging 70.3 points per game.
Wagner is holding its opponents to 38.5% from the field and 15.9% from three-point range during this span.
This is the second three-game winning streak on Grymes Hill under
Terrell Coburn. Last season, the Seahawks began the season 7-0 at the Spiro Sports Center.
NEC Ranks
The Seahawks are the highest scoring team in the NEC with 63.0 points per game.
Wagner also leads the NEC in assists per game with 14.5 while having a conference-best +4.50 turnover margin. Wagner's turnover margin ranks 41st in the nation.
Wagner also ranks second in the NEC with 114 steals and 9.5 per game. Wagner's 9.5 steals per contest ranks 80th in the nation.
Zhaneia Thybulle leads the NEC with 54 total assists and 4.5 assists per game. The Elmont, NY native led the NEC in assists last season.
Drayah Heyward ranks second in the NEC with 2.0 steals per game and 22 total steals. The Newark, NJ native led the NEC in steals last season.
Preseason Favorites
Wagner was predicted to finish first in the league's annual preseason poll.
Selected by the league's head coaches as the 2022-23 NEC preseason favorite, Wagner has its sights set on claiming the NEC title; a feat that has only occurred just one other time, back 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 game 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 poll. Behind the Terriers is Saint Francis U, who received one first-place vote.
Zhaneia Thybulle named to the All-NEC preseason team after being named Third Team All-NEC last season.
History Against Merrimack
The Seahawks hold a 3-2 advantage in the all-time series between the two teams.
Wagner is 0-1 all-time against Merrimack at the Spiro Sports Center.
In its last meeting, the Seahawks earned a 79-67 victory in North Andover, MA in last season's regular season finale.
Scouting Merrimack
The Warriors head to Grymes Hill with a 1-11 record a 0-1 NEC record as they will be looking to snap a six-game losing streak.
Redshirt senior Marissa Hamilton's 17.1 points per game lead the NEC.
Senior Jayme DeCesare is other lone Warrior to averge double figures with 10.9 points per game.
DeCesare's 2.4 three-point field goals made per game are tied for first in the NEC and ranks first with 34.9 minutes per contest.
What's Next
The Seahawks will conclude its weekend home stand when they welcome NEC foe LIU to the Spiro Sports Center on Sunday, January 8. Tip-off is scheduled for 3:00 pm.
