Easton, MA - The #7 Wagner women's basketball team will face #2 Stonehill in the quarterfinal round of the NEC Tournament on Monday, March 10. Tip-off is set for 7:00 PM in Merkert Gymnasium.
The Series
This matchup marks the seventh meeting all-time between the squads. Stonehill leads the all-time series 4-2.
In two regular season matchups this year, Stonehill came out on top. On February 20 in Easton, MA the Skyhawks topped Wagner 77-64 and defeated the Seahawks again in both teams' regular season finale, 68-60, in Staten Island, NY. This matchup also marks the first time these teams will meet in the NEC Tournament.
Scouting the Skyhawks
The Skyhawks enter the NEC Tournament as the No. 2 seed. This is the program's second NEC Tournament appearance since joining the league in 2022. Last season, the No. 7 seed Skyhawks fell to the No. 2 seed Le Moyne in the quarterfinal round.
This season, Stonehill posted an overall record of 15-14 while going 11-5 in conference play.
Senior Sharn Hayward leads the team in scoring (16.1), ranking second in the NEC this year. Graduate student Kylie Swider led the team in rebounding (8.8), also ranking second in the NEC.
As a team, the Skyhawks lead the league in assists per game (16.55) while also scoring the third highest points per game (64.7).
Wagner In The NEC Tournament
Wagner is 16-22 all-time in the NEC Tournament as this is the Seahawks 26th NEC Tournament appearance.
The Seahawks are seeking their first NEC crown since 1988-89, a season where Wagner won its lone regular season and tournament title. The Green & White have appeared in the NEC title game five times back in 2021, 2000, 1998, 1991 and 1989.
Wagner holds a 5-21 record on the road in the NEC Tournament.
The Seahawks have lost nine consecutive road playoff games with the last victory coming in 2000 when they won two road games.
Wagner holds a 9-13 record in the quarterfinals. In the teams last NEC Tournament appearance in 2023, the Green & White as the #5 seed lost to #4 St. Francis Brooklyn.
Terrell Coburn In The NEC Tournament
The Seahawks hold a 1-2 record in the NEC Tournament under fourth-year head coach Terrell Coburn. Wagner defeated LIU 66-55 in the quarterfinals in 2022 for Coburn's first NEC Tournament victory. The win over LIU snapped a six-game quarterfinal losing streak.
Fabozzi Is On Fire
Graduate student Julia Fabozzi enters the NEC Tournament as the third highest scorer in the league (15.9). Fabozzi also ranks fifth in rebounds per game (6.6).
Fabozzi was named NEC Co-Player of the Week earlier this season. That week she scored 24 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in a 61-56 win over Le Moyne. Julia Fabozzi scored a career-high 40 points earlier this against LIU on 14-of-20 shooting and 11-of-13 from the charity stripe. Fabozzi also grabbed eight rebounds and blocked two shots. 40 points is the most this season by any player in the NEC. 40 points is also the eighth most in college basketball this season and tied for sixth all-time in Wagner history. Earlier this season, the Staten Island, NY native scored 38 points against Old Westbury on December 30. Fabozzi returns to the lineup after playing seven games last season after missing most of the year with a knee injury.
Welcome Back Taleah
After missing the first 10 games of the season, Taleah Washington made her season debut on December 21 against Columbia. Earlier this season, against Old Westbury, the graduate student set a new program record with a career-high 22 assists. She passed Alice Burgos' 1989 record of 16 assists. 22 assists is the second most all-time in NCAAW history.
The Emergence Of Keana Foz
Keana Foz has started in all of her 27 appearances this season for the Green & White. Foz holds the top spot in the NEC in steals per game (2.2). Foz is also sixth in the nation for steals by a freshman.
Earlier this season, Foz was named the NEC's Rookie of the Week. In two games, she averaged 12 points per game, 3.5 assists and 3 rebounds. Foz was also named to the 2024 FIU Thanksgiving Classic All-Tournament Team.
Doy Finds Her Groove
Over her last five games, Lijirin Doyinsola Modesayor is averaging 12.4 points per game and 7.8 rebounds per game. In Wagner's first matchup against Stonehill this season, Doy put up a career-high 21 points and eight rebounds. She then followed up that game with three consecutive games in double figures.
Seahawks Amongst The NEC
Wagner leads the NEC in blocks per game (3.21). Junior Hawa Balde-Camara leads the NEC in blocks per game with 1.6.
The NEC Tournament
This year's eight team tournament, features FDU as the top seed, who sits at No. 19 in the latest Mid-Major poll. Stonehill comes in as the second seed with CCSU sliding in at three. Saint Francis U rounded out the host teams as the four seed. Le Moyne finished fifth with Chicago State, Wagner and LIU wrapping up the rest of the bracket.
After the quarterfinals, the teams will be reseeded so the highest remaining seed plays the lowest remaining seed in the semifinals.
NEC Tournament quarterfinal play commences on Monday, March 10, followed by the semifinal round on Thursday, March 13. The championship game will be contested on Sunday, March 16. All quarterfinal games will air on NEC Front Row. The semis will air on
NEC Front Row and ESPN+. The final will be telecast on ESPNU.
