WEST HAVEN, Conn. — The Wagner College women's basketball team edged NEC newcomer New Haven by a score of 64-62 at The Hazell Center on Thursday night.
The Seahawks (13-14, 9-7 NEC) were led by sophomore guard Keana Foz who scored a career-high 20 points on 8-12 (66.7%) from the floor. The Mississauga, Ontario native scored 10 points in each half.
Redshirt junior Klea Kaci followed Fox by adding 12 points, hitting three three-point field goals. Junior Lijirin Doyinsola Modesayor chipped in 11 points and a team-high seven rebounds. Senior Irene Fernandez de Caleya earned a career-best six steals as the Seahawks recorded 14 steals as a team and forced New Haven to commit 27 turnovers.
The Seahawks turned 27 Charger miscues into 33 points while holding New Haven (7-20, 5-11 NEC) to only 10 points off turnovers. Graduate student Raheem Elbarky and senior Angelie Ricard scored four points off the bench for Wagner.
New Haven began the game on a 12-3 run over the first six minutes of game action. Wagner closed the gap to four, trailing 16-12, after the first frame. The Chargers outscored the Seahawks 10-4 in points in the paint during the opening quarter.
After an even second quarter in which both teams scored 16 points, New Haven held a 32-28 lead at the half. Wagner forced nine New Haven turnovers in the second quarter alone with Fernandez de Caleya tallying three steals in her 6:49 on the court.
To start the second half, Wagner went on a 12-5 run to take a three-point lead midway through the third. At the end of the third, the Green & White held onto a 48-43 advantage. Wagner outscored New Haven 20-11 in the third, winning the battle in the paint 14-6.
In the final quarter of play, New Haven made it a one-point game with 10 ticks remaining. The Chargers hit back-to-back three-point field goals in the final minute to make it a 63-62 game. After a free throw by Modesayor, New Haven's last attempt fell to the right as Wagner earned the two-point to receive its ninth NEC win of the year.
Next up, the Green & White travel to Chicago State for a 2 p.m. EST tip-off on Saturday, Feb. 28 at the Jones Convocation Center.
