BROOKLYN, N.Y. – The Wagner College women's basketball team improved to 9-10 on the season and climbed to 5-3 mark in NEC play after a 59-54 win at LIU on Saturday.
Wagner (9-10, 5-3 NEC) found themselves in a 30-20 deficit at the half. LIU (11-8, 6-2 NEC) outscored the Seahawks 15-7 in the second quarter to take a double-digit lead after 20 minutes of game time.
At the half, junior Lijirin Doyinsola Modesayor led the Seahawks with 12 points and five rebounds. Sophomore Keana Foz added four points with two assists and two rebounds. After 20 minutes of play, LIU was shooting 13-31 (41.9%) while Wagner shot 7-25 (28.0%).
In the third quarter, Wagner outscored LIU 20-9 to take a 40-39 lead heading into the final quarter of play. Junior Irene Fernadez de Caleya netted eight in the period while Doyinsola Modesayor, Foz, and redshirt junior Klea Kaci scored three apiece.
The Green & White closed the period on an eight-point run to take the lead with less than one minute in the quarter. Wagner outscored LIU 8-4 in the paint in the third.
In the fourth quarter, the Seahawks shot 7-13 (53.8%) from the field while the Sharks put up a 5-15 (33.3%) shooting clip. Wagner outscored LIU 19-15 in the fourth to prevail by five. At one point, Wagner held a 57-45 lead after a Kaci three-pointer with just under four minutes remaining.
In the second half, Wagner scored eight points off turnovers while limiting LIU to one-point of turnovers during the same time period.
The Seahawks shot 16-26 (61.5%) from the charity stripe while the Sharks shot 6-10 (60.0%) from the free throw line.
Doyinsola Modesayor finished the game with a team-high 19 points and 11 rebounds while Fernandez de Caleya followed with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Foz added 11 points, three rebounds, and three assists. Redshirt senior Priscila Varela scored eight, Kaci with seven, and senior Maria Doreste nailed a pair of free throws for her two points.
With the win, the Seahawks have emerged victorious in their last three conference games to become 5-3 in league play.
Next up, Wagner welcomes CCSU to the Spiro Sports Center for a 5:00 p.m. tip-off on Thursday, January 29. The Seahawks-Blue Devils meeting will feature the Wagner women's basketball program's 'Alumni Day' prior to the game.
