WATCH | Live Stats | Game Notes
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – The Wagner College women's basketball team takes on Chicago State for the first game of the 2025-26 conference season. The Friday tip-off between the Seahawks and Cougars is set to begin at 7:00 p.m. on NEC Front Row at the Spiro Sports Center.
Miss Do-It-All
To wrap up the 2025 calendar year, senior Irene Fernandez de Caleya recorded an all-around performance against NJCU on December 30 by scoring 12 points to go along with eight rebounds, six assists, and one steal in the Seahawks 86-39 win over the Gothic Knights.
To go along with Fernandez de Caleya's 12 points, five other Seahawks scored in double-figures; Junior Lijirin Doyinsola Modesayor and freshman Alivia Landy also scored 12 while senior Angelie Ricard, senior Hawa Balde-Camara, and redshirt junior Klea Kaci added 10 each.
The Non-Con Review
The Seahawks finished the 2025-26 non-conference season with a 4-7 record. Wagner picked up wins against SUNY New Paltz, Cornell, Rider, and then NJCU last time out - with three of these wins coming at the Spiro Sports Center.
Sophomore Keana Foz earned NEC Prime Performer honors after her 15-point showing at Rutgers while Doyinsola Modesayor has attained the honor twice thus far.
At Rider, the Seahawks recorded 17 steals, the most in one game against a Division I opener since the 2008-09 season.
Scouting Chicago State
Chicago State comes into Friday's matchup with a 1-12 overall record, with its lone win coming against Winthrop in a 59-54 final score at the Jones Convocation Center. In the win, sophomore Aiyanna Culver dropped 33 points with two steals on 11-16 (68.8%) shooting including a 4-7 (57.1%) shooting clip from beyond-the-arc.
Culver leads the Cougars in points per game with 12.8 to go along with 2.1 rebounds. Sophomore Keona McGee is responsible for 7.7 points per game followed by sophomore Natalia Williams who averaged 7.2 points per contest.
Sophomore Kayla Mount leads the roster in rebounds per game at 5.4 while scoring 6.6 per contest.
As a team, Chicago State ranks third in the NEC in blocked shots per game, sitting at 2.85 rejections per 40 minutes.
The Series
The Seahawks are 2-0 all-time against the Cougars, with both wins coming during last season's 2024-25 campaign. Chicago State joined the NEC prior to the start of last year, making the Seahawks-Cougars game an annual meeting.
Last time out, Doyinsola Modesayor recorded a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds, the first double-double of her collegiate career, in a 58-52 win on Grymes Hill back on February 22.
When these two programs first met up on January 2 of last season, Ricard scored 15 points to go along with a career-best 12 rebounds in a 85-73 win in Chicago.
A Win Would..
A Seahawks' win would make Wagner 5-1 in the program's last six conference openers. The last time Wagner lost an NEC opener was on January 6, 2023 in a 54-64 decision at Saint Francis U.
A Wagner win would set the Seahawks in a 3-0 all-time mark over the Cougars.
A Look Ahead
After taking on Chicago State, Wagner will compete in three straight away games - at Stonehill on Sunday, January 4, at Saint Francis U on Thursday, January 8, and at Mercyhurst on Saturday, January 10.
The Green & White then return the favor by hosting three straight home events atop of Grymes Hill. Wagner welcomes the current conference champions FDU on Thursday, January 15 for a 7:00 pm tip. The Seahawks host conference newcomer New Haven on Saturday, January 17 and Le Moyne on Thursday, January 22 before hitting the road again at LIU on Saturday, January 24. Tip-off against New Haven is scheduled for 2:00 pm while tip-off against Le Moyne is set for 7:00 pm.
Wagner heads back home for a 5:00 pm tip against CCSU on Thursday, January 29 before wrapping up the month at FDU on Saturday, January 31.
