Staten Island, NY - Graduate student
Julia Fabozzi hit a driving right-handed layup with 1.8 seconds remaining, granting Wagner a 62-60 win over NJIT Thursday night at the Spiro Sports Center.
Fabozzi finished with a career-high 23 points and grabbed nine rebounds in 40 minutes of action. Freshman Keana Foz added a career-high 13 points along with five assists and five rebounds while redshirt-sophomore Klea Kaci chipped in eight points and seven rebounds.
The opening frame saw two lead changes with the Highlanders leading 14-9 and the end of the period.
With 8:01 left in the second quarter, Fabozzi was fouled on a three-point attempt and sank all three free throws to knot the game at 17. Back and forth action continued throughout the quarter but NJIT would find a cushion and take a 33-26 lead into the locker room.
The Highlands took their largest lead of the game with 7:48 remaining in the quarter. Down 11, the Seahawks went on a 14-9 run and found themselves within six, 50-44, at the end of the third quarter.
The Green & White continued their run and grabbed a 55-54 lead after a pair of free throws from Foz. NJIT converted on a layup with 2:54 remaining in the game to tie the game at 58 apiece. The game stood at 58 for two minutes before NJIT gained the lead after a layup with 54 seconds left. On the next possession, Ricard drove to the paint for a layup and tied the game at 60. The Seahawks stopped the Highlanders on their next possession, setting up head coach Terrell Coburn and the Green & White for their final play with 5.3 seconds remaining.
Following a timeout, Fabozzi drove past an NJIT defender for the right-handed scoop to give Wagner a 62-60 lead with 1.8 seconds on the clock.
The Highlanders final shot fell short and the Seahawks earned a 62-60 victory.
After the game Coburn said "our resilience tonight was incredible, they earned it, they worked really hard on the defensive side of the ball, and they executed so I'm proud of them". Fabozzi added "making that basket was the best feeling in the world, it was surreal".
Fabozzi missed the majority of last season due to injury. This season, the Staten Island, NY native has scored in double figures six times, with three games over 20.
The Seahawks are back in action on Sunday, December 12 against Rutgers at Jersey Mike's Arena. Tip-off is set for 2:00 PM.
