Staten Island, NY - The Wagner women's basketball team (8-18, 5-9 NEC) pushed past LIU (6-21, 3-11 NEC), 66-58, Thursday night at the Spiro Sports Center.
Graduate student Taleah Washington was recognized before the game with a commemorative ball, celebrating her record-breaking 22-assist performance earlier this season. Her 22 assists set a new Wagner record and tied for second all-time in NCAA women's basketball history.
Washington led the charge for the Seahawks, finishing with 18 points and five assists in 39 minutes. Graduate student Julia Fabozzi contributed 17 points, going a perfect 12-for-12 from the free-throw line, while sophomore Lijirin Doyinsola Modesayor notched her third consecutive double-digit scoring game with 10 points and seven rebounds. Freshman Keana Foz, the NEC's steals leader, added seven points and four steals.
As a team, Wagner dominated the boards, outrebounding LIU 38-25, including a seven-rebound advantage on the offensive glass. The Seahawks also capitalized at the free-throw line, converting 23-of-24 attempts, while the Sharks managed just 6-of-12.
In a defensive battle early on, LIU held a narrow 11-10 lead after the first quarter, despite Washington's buzzer-beating putback layup. Wagner responded in the second, outscoring LIU 21-15 to take a 31-26 lead into halftime.
LIU closed the gap to one, 33-32, in the third quarter before Foz sliced through the defense for a left-handed finish in the paint. The Seahawks then took control, closing the period with a 50-37 advantage.
Wagner maintained its composure in the final frame, fending off any Shark comeback attempts to secure a 66-58 victory.
With the win, the Seahawks evened the season series with LIU at 1-1. The Sharks previously edged Wagner in a triple-overtime thriller, 80-79, on February 6 in Brooklyn.
Now sixth in the NEC standings, Wagner looks ahead to its next challenge against fourth-seeded CCSU on Saturday, March 1, at 1:00 PM in New Britain, CT, with two regular-season games remaining.
