Syracuse, N.Y. – The Le Moyne College women's basketball team outscored the Wagner Seahawks 20-8 in the fourth quarter to claim a 62-52 victory Saturday afternoon at Ted Grant Court to improve to 3-0 at home in Northeast Conference play.

Junior guard Sierra Linnin (Valley Cottage, N.Y./Albertus Magnus), graduate guard Megan Bodziony (Wakefield, R.I./St. Andrew's School/Fordham/Bryant) and graduate forward Haedyn Roberts (Holland Patent, N.Y./Holland Patent) each scored in double figures off the bench for Le Moyne.

Linnin led all scorers with 17 points on 5-of-10 shooting from the field, including 4-of-9 from beyond the arc, while Bodziony provided 12 points, four rebounds and three assists, and Roberts scored in double figures for the sixth consecutive game with 12 points in addition to five rebounds and two steals.

Rookie guard Eli Clark (Oakhurst, N.J./Ocean Township) registered eight points and three assists in a team-high 35 minutes played, while senior guard Emily Florvil (Brooklyn, N.Y./Nazareth) added seven points, seven rebounds and two assists.

Senior forward Brianna Williams (Brampton, Ontario/Southwest Academy/Hartford) also pulled down seven rebounds for the 'Phins, including four offensive boards.

The Dolphins trailed by five points at halftime, but outscored the visitors in both the third and fourth frames to record the team's first double-digit victory of the campaign.

Le Moyne shot 41.5% from the field Saturday, its fourth-highest field goal percentage this season, and recorded 14 assists on 22 made field goals. The 'Phins collected 13 offensive rebounds against the Seahawks, which is tied for their second-highest output this season. Le Moyne's 49 bench points is the most it's had in a game so far this season.

Julia Fabozzi led the Seahawks with 16 points and five rebounds during the setback, while Keana Fox provided 12 points on 6-of-8 shooting from the field to go along with three assists and a team-high seven rebounds. Taleah Washington added eight points, three assists and two steals for Wagner.

Le Moyne limited the Seahawks to 3-of-17 from three-point range and just six free throw attempts. The Dolphins shot 7-of-19 from beyond the arc, including 3-of-5 during the final 10 minutes, and 11-of-15 from the line, marking the sixth time in the team's first seven conference games that they have taken at least 15 free throws.

Le Moyne improves to 3-4 in Northeast Conference play with the win, while Wagner drops to 2-6 against NEC competition.

Junior guard Michelina Lombardi (Wynantskill, N.Y./Averill Park) and sophomore forward Zhara Adeyemi (Brooklyn, N.Y./South Shore) both made their first career start during the conference matchup.

Both teams had five players score in the opening quarter, and the Seahawks held a 14-13 advantage after 10 minutes of action.

Wagner shot 8-of-14 from the field during the second and outscored the Dolphins 18-14 during the period to extend its lead to 32-27 at the intermission.

Linnin scored seven of her points in the second quarter to pace the Dolphins, including a contested floater from just outside the paint at the 4:50 mark and a quick catch-and-shoot triple from the left wing less than a minute later.

Back-to-back baskets from Washington and Fox pushed Wagner's lead to 38-31 with 7:59 left in the third quarter, then both sides went scoreless for the next three minutes and 13 seconds before Florvil drove from the wing to the left block and finished a layup through contact.

Clark got past her defender and scored a layup at the right block with 4:06 remaining in the third, then a Roberts steal led to a Linnin transition three during the next Le Moyne possession to tie the contest at 38-38.

Consecutive jumpers from Fox put the Seahawks back in front.  With under 30 seconds left in the third, Bodziony caught a pass in the paint and converted a layup over the outstretched arms of her defender to cut Le Moyne's deficit to 44-42 heading into the fourth.

Two free throws from Washington in the opening minute of the fourth made it a four-point game, then Clark accepted a handoff from Williams and drained a three-point field goal from straight on at the 8:49 mark.

With 7:25 left in the fourth, Linnin caught a pass about 27 feet from the basket, standing on the Dolphin logo, then set her feet and stuck the deep triple to give Le Moyne a 48-46 lead.

Fabozzi drove to the hoop and scored in the paint at the other end to once again tie the game, but Le Moyne took the lead for good when Roberts grabbed an offensive rebound and converted the putback to make it 50-48 in favor of the Dolphins.

Clark sank her second three-pointer of the game during the next Le Moyne possession to give the Dolphins a five-point cushion.

Le Moyne made seven free throws in the final 4:30 to close out the win and remain perfect at Ted Grant Court in 2025.

GAME HIGHLIGHTS:


POSTGAME INTERVIEW WITH HEAD COACH NICK DIPILLO AND JUNIOR GUARD SIERRA LINNIN:


The Dolphins will return to action on February 6 when they host Saint Francis for a 6:00 p.m. conference matchup, then they will conclude their three-game homestand on February 8 against Mercyhurst University in the team's Play4Kay game.