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Highlights of Nwaigwe's 8-point, 7-block, 24-Rebound Performance / Nwaigwe Post-Game Interview (with Gabe Gilson of Wagner Athletics)

Staten Island, NY – The brave souls who trekked through streets covered with more than six inches of snow en route to the Spiro Sports Center were treated to an epic performance by the Wagner women's basketball team tonight, as center Ugo Nwaigwe (Valley Stream, NY/Valley Stream South) grabbed 24 rebounds while the backcourt tandem of Jasmine Nwajei (Rockaway Park, NY/Murry Bergtraum) and Jordyn Peck (Shaker Heights, OH/Shaker Heights) scored 22 and 21 points, respectively, in leading the Seahawks to a 67-51 win over first-place Robert Morris in Northeast Conference (NEC) action.

The victory snapped a 17-game, decade-long, losing streak to the Colonials, while the 24-rebound effort by Nwaigwe tied for third on the Seahawk all-time single-game list.

In defeating Robert Morris for the first time since a 56-51 road win on February 7, 2004, the Seahawks improve to 4-6 on the season and move into seventh place in the 10-team conference. The top eight teams will secure a berth in next month's NEC Tournament.

The Seahawks, who have not made the league tournament in four years, improved their season record to 5-16. With the loss, the Colonials saw their seven-game winning streak come to an end, falling to 8-2 in league play and 12-9 overall.

A signature victory for second-year head coach Lisa Cermignano's program, the win was largely a by-product of a stifling brand of defense that held the Colonials to 31% shooting. In the decisive second half, RMU went just 9-of-31 (29%) from the floor while the Seahawks connected on a blistering 56% (14-of-25) from the field over the final 20 minutes. RMU entered the game 51st in the nation at 35.2% from three-point range but on this night, the Colonials managed to hit just 11.8% of their treys in going 2-of-17 from deep.

Wagner's defensive effort limited RMU to its lowest output of the season in NEC play and equaled the season low that the Colonials scored on November 23, 2013 in a 51-39 win over UMBC.  The 51 points were also the fewest allowed by the Seahawks this season. Wagner came up with 10 steals tonight, the most recorded by the Seahawks in an NEC game this season and the second-highest (11 at Iona, 11/20/13) tamount of thefts collected all season.

Wagner did a particularly effective and noteworthy defensive job on RMU's 6-0 senior forward Artemis Spanou, limiting the reigning NEC Player of the Year to a season-low five points, more than 16 below the 21.1-point NEC average that she brought into the game (a figure that ranked No. 4 in the NEC). Spanou was held to 1-of-6 shooting on the night and, in the second half, she missed the only field goal attempt that she took.

The talented native of Greece, who tossed in 30 points in RMU's 64-53 win over the Seahawks back on January 20 in the first meeting between these clubs, finished with a team-high 17 rebounds. One of the top players in NEC history, Spanou has an NEC-record 75 career double-doubles to her credit and owns the NEC records for rebounds with 1,396 after tonight.

After falling behind 28-21 at halftime following a defensive-minded opening stanza, Wagner broke out of the gates in the second half with a well-executed 14-4 run, taking the lead on a three-pointer by freshman guard Lyndsay Rowe (South River, NJ/St. John Vianney) with 15:48 to play. A three-pointer by RMU freshman sharp-shooter Anna Niki Stamolamprou two minutes later tied the game 37-37 at the 13:03 mark.

The Seahawks struck back with consecutive three-pointers by Peck and Nwajei to up the lead back to six points at 43-37 midway through the second half. Trailing 52-46 following a Peck three-ball at the 6:59 mark, the Colonials received back-to-back layups from freshman forward Cassie Oursler to pull to within two at 52-50 with 5:24 to play. A Nwajei layup at 4:59, off a pretty feed from redshirt freshman guard Jazmine Hamlet (Manhattan, NY/Francis Lewis,) ignited a stirring, game-ending 15-1 run for the Seahawks as Wagner won this one going away.

Layups on consecutive trips by Rowe and Nwaigwe allowed the Green & White to open a 58-50 bulge with 2:55 left. After Spanou split a pair at the line to make it 58-51 with 2:04 left, Peck iced the game by sinking eight free throws the rest of the way. The 5-6, left-handed shooting Peck went 11-of-15 from the charity stripe on the evening and is now shooting 87% from the line in NEC play and 83% overall.

Oursler paced RMU with her second double-double of the season, finishing with 17 points and 11 rebounds, while Stamolamprou added 14 points and seven boards.

The teams exchanged baskets at the outset of the game and at the 12:07 mark of the first half, the Seahawks took an 11-8 lead following a Nwajei layup. The Colonials then responded with a 14-2 run, kick-started by a Stamolamprou jbucket at the 11:48 mark. Cassie Oursler then hit a driving layup at 11:02 to put RMU in front 12-11. Oursler than shook loose for a pair of layups and a free throw, and Stamolamprou ended the run with a three-point jumper at 7:40, as the Colonials built a 22-13 lead.
 
Consecutive layups by Nwajei and Peck, the latter in transition off a long feed from Rowe,  made it a 22-17 game with 2:19 to go in the half. Following an RMU turnover, Nwajei hit a runner with 2:10 left to draw Wagner to within three at 22-19. The Colonials then closed the half with a 6-2 spurt, with the final four points coming on two Stamolamprou jumpers, to head into halftime with the 28-21 lead.

Nwajei paced Wagner with eight first-half points, Rowe added five while Peck and Nwaigwe chipped in with four apiece.
 
Stamolamprou led all scorers with nine in the opening half, while Spanou, who entered the game ranked No. 4 in the NEC in scoring at 21.1 per game, was held to just four first-half points on 1-of-5 shooting. The 6-0 senior forward did corral 10 rebounds in the opening stanza.
 
Neither team could get it going offensively in the first half as RMU show 32% (12-of-37) from the field while the Seahawks managed just 26% shooting (8-of-31).

Wagner is next in action on Saturday, February 8 when the Seahawks travel to Fairleigh Dickinson for a 1:00 pm tip.

NOTES
 
Nwaigwe's 24 Rebounds vs. Robert Morris T-3rd on Wagner All-Time Single-Game Rebounds List
1.            Cindy Bonforte vs. Queens, 2-12-83                         30
2.            Mary Gormley at Molloy, 1-11-78                                27
3.            Michelle Diener vs. Monmouth, 1-16-93                     24
                UGO NWAIGWE vs. Robert Morris, 2-3-14           24
5              Cindy Bonforte vs. Pace, 12-5-81                             23
6.            Stephanie Samuels vs. LIU, 1-15-85                          22
                Cindy Bonforte vs. C.W. Post, 2-3-81                        22
 
Nwaigwe Becomes Wagner's All-Time Single-Season Blocked Shots Leader
Redshirt sophomore center Ugo Nwaige has blocked 71 shots this season in just 21 games and her seven-block
effort vs. Robert Morris allowed her to become Wagner's All-Time Single-Season Record-Holder
 
1.            Ugo Nwaigwe (2013-2014)...................                  71
2.            Ali Ridge, 2005-2006...................................             66         
3.            Meredith Kerns, 1998-1999.........................             57
4.             Monique Lee, 1999-2000.............................            56
5.            Kelly Clark (2011-2012)..............................               51
                Kelly Clark, 2010-2011................................             51
                Kelly Clark, 2008-2009................................             51
 
Nwaigwe Seventh on Wagner Career Blocked Shots List
1.            Ali Ridge, 2004-2008...................................           201
2.            Kelly Clark, 2008-2012.................................          184
3.            Meredith Kerns, 1998-2002.......................             153
4.            Cynthia Quinlan, 1986-90............................           124
5.            Stephanie Samuels, 1982-1986....................          111
6.            Ashley Linscott, 2000-2004............................         96
7.            Ugo Nwaige (2011-present)...................              87
 
Peck Ninth on Career 3-Point FG Made List
1. Joy Gallagher, 2002-2006...........................                         240
2. Susan Moffat, 1994-1998...........................                         236
3. Marie L. Archambault, 2009-2013...................                     234
4. Chris Anderson, 1988-1992........................                         224
5. Amanda Young, 1995-1999...........................                       167
6. Toni Roker, 1999-2003.............................                             158
7. Stephanie McBride, 2007-2011......................                       113
8. Patti Winterfeldt, 1990-1994......................                            101
9. Jordyn Peck (2012 – Present)........................                  94
10. Casey Stokes, 2005-2009............................                        93
 
Peck 10th on Career 3-Point FG Attempted List
1. Joy Gallagher, 2002-2006...........................                           698
2. Susan Moffat, 1994-1998............................                          681
3. Marie-L. Archambault, 2009-2013....................                     648
4. Chris Anderson, 1988-1992..........................                        603
5. Amanda Young, 1995-1999............................                       483
6. Toni Roker, 1999-2003..............................                             449
7. Stephanie McBride, 2007-pres.......................                       348
8. Patti Winterfeldt, 1990-1994.......................                           310
9. Casey Stokes, 2005-2009............................                         300
10. Jordyn Peck (2012 – Present)......................                  282
 
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