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Staten Island, NY - The Wagner College women's basketball team will welcome Sacred Heart to the Spiro Sports Center on Sunday, tip-off is scheduled for 4:00 pm.
Last Time Out
Wagner dropped its second consecutive Northeast Conference (NEC) contest with a 72-45 defeat to Merrimack on Friday, January 19.
Junior Paige Lyons led the offensive effort for Wagner with 14 points on 4-11 shooting from the floor. Lyons shot a perfect 4-4 from the free-throw line.
Junior Rakisha Ballinger chipped in with 12 points to go along with eight rebounds.
Taleah Washington Continues To Impress
Washington's 29 points in Wagner's lone Northeast Conference (NEC) win against LIU was the most for Wagner since former Seahawk Emilija Krista Grava scored 32 points on March 5, 2021.
The District Heights, MD native connected on five three-pointers for the second time this season. It was the second time Washington scored over 20 points in a game this season.
Washington tallied 23 points and the game-winning shot with two seconds remaining at Saint Peter's on December 6. Washington shot 5-10 from distance in Wagner's second victory of the season.
Washington has shot 8-13 from three-point range through NEC play and is averaging 14.7 points per game through conference play, good for fifth in the circuit. Washington ranks fourth in the NEC with 3.3 assists per game.
Stealing History
Wagner tallied a program-best 30 steals in its final non-conference against Saint Elizabeth on December 30, a record that stood since Wagner tallied 2w against Mount St. Mary's on February 9, 1883.
Along with 30 steals as a team, junior Rakisha Ballinger tallied 12 steals, a single game program record. Ballinger's 12 steals is the highest steal total in a game this season across the country. Wagner's 30 steals as a team is tied for the fifth-most in a game this season.
Ballinger broke a record that stood since former Seahawk Shawn Martin tallied 11 steals against Hartford on December 28, 1987.
Defensive DNA
Wagner ranks 45th in the nation with 19.64 turnovers forced per game and 66th in the nation with 9.86 steals per contest.
The Seahawks rank first in the NEC in steals and turnovers forced per game. Wagner has recorded double-digit steals in five games this season. Wagner has also forced double-digit turnovers in every game this season and has forced 20 turnovers in five games this season.
Scouting Sacred Heart
The reigning NEC champions enter Wagner with a 9-9 overall record and a 3-1 mark in conference play. The Pioneers were unanimous favorites to repeat as NEC champions.
The Pioneers are led by sophomore Ny'Ceara Pryor. Last sea- son, Pryor became first player in program and league history to earn NEC Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year in the same season. In addition to earning a spot on First Team All-NEC and NEC All-Rookie Team.
This season, Pryor ranks first in the NEC in points per game, assists per game, and steals per game. The Pioneers saw their four-game winning streak snapped in their last contest with a 60-56 loss to Le Moyne. It was Sacred Heart's first NEC defeat of the season.
Along with Pryor, Sajada Bonner was named to the NEC Preseason All-Conference Team. Sacred Heart ranks 56th in the nation in turnover margin, 67th in turnovers per game, and 63rd in offensive rebounds per game.
The Pioneers also rank 90th in scoring defense and 98th in turn- overs forced per game. Ny'Ceara Pryor ranks ninth nationally with 53 total steals, and 43rd with 310 total points. Pryor's 79 total assists ranks 61st nationally.
The Series
Sacred Heart holds a 35-10 advantage over Wagner in head-to-head contests. The Seahawks are 6-15 all-time at home against the Pioneers. The Seahawks will look to snap a three-game losing streak against the Pioneers.
Last Season Against Sacred Heart
The Pioneers earned two victories in as many tries last season against the Seahawks.
What's Next
Wagner will welcome Central Connecticut State to the Spiro Sports Center on Saturday, January 27, tip-off is scheduled for 4:00 pm.
