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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – The Wagner College women's basketball team heads to Mercyhurst for the fourth conference game of the 2025-26 season. The Saturday tip-off between the Seahawks and Lakers is set to begin at 1:00 p.m. on NEC Front Row inside of Owen McCormick Court.
These two teams split the two games in the first season as conference opponents, as Mercyhurst made the jump to Division I from the PSAC in April 2024 after being a member of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) since 2008.
Wagner (6-8, 2-1 NEC) dropped its matchup at Saint Francis, 67-75, on Thursday to drop to 2-1 in the NEC. Junior Lijirin Doyinsola Modesayor finished with a team-high 14 points while sophomore Keana Foz scored 13 points to go along with nine rebounds, five assists, and three steals. Seniors Irene Fernandez de Caleya and Hawa Balde-Camara chipped in 10 points each.
Against the Red Flash, Wagner shot 25-62 (40.3%) from the field, but 0-8 (0.0%) from three and 17-37 (45.9%) from the foul line. This is the first time the Seahawks have failed to hit a three in a game since Feb. 9, 2024 against FDU.
Among other NEC teams, the Seahawks rank atop the NEC in forced turnovers per game (20.6) and second in the conference in blocks per game (3.14) and third in defensive three-point percentage (27.6%).
In the NEC, Foz ranks second in steals per game within the NEC at 2.2 steals per contest. Senior Hawa Balde-Camara sits third in the conference in blocks per game with 1.0. Both Foz and Balde-Camara ended last season in first place in their respective categories. Junior Lijirin Doyinsola Modesayor leads Wagner in points per game with 10.9 points and 6.3 rebounds. The Seahawks were picked to finish seventh in the conference's preseason coaches poll.
A win on Saturday would keep Wagner in the top half of the conference standings.
Mercyhurst (1-13, 1-2 NEC) took down Le Moyne earlier this month by a score of 89-72 to earn its lone win of the season. In the Lakers win, five players scored in double-figures with freshman Sofia Wilson leading the charge with 19 points.
Erin Mills-Reird runs the helm of Saint Francis coaching staff and is in her first season doing so.
Mercyhurst comes into Saturday's game with an 1-13 overall record with an 1-2 mark in NEC action. Sophomore Lena Walz leads the Lakers offense averaging 12.3 points and 3.9 rebounds per game. Fellow sophomore Cici Hernandez adds in 10.9 points and freshman Sofia Wilson chips in 10.1 points per contest.
The Lakers rank fourth in the conference in team three-point percentage sitting at 30.2% from behind the arc as a team. Mercyhurst was selected six in the NEC preseason coaches poll..
After taking on Mercyhurst, Wagner welcomes the defending conference champions, FDU, to the Spiro Sports Center for a 7:00 p.m. tip-off on Thursday, January 15.
