STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – A game-high 15 points from Morgan Lenahan, along with 14 points added by Sierra Clark and 13 from Taylah Simmons, propelled Wagner past the Longwood women's basketball team 60-43 Sunday afternoon inside the Spiro Sports Center.
The trio of Lenahan, Clark and Simmons combined for 42 of Wagner's (2-7) 60 points to help Wagner overcome 19 turnovers forced by the Lancers, as well as an outing from Micaela Ellis that saw the senior score eight points and add three assists and four steals.
"We missed a ton of makeable shots early," said Longwood head coach
Bill Reinson. "Not only did it cost us points, but our energy level and confidence suffered a little bit. It's easy to play when you're making shots and riding high but it takes toughness to overcome offensive struggles."
The 15 points from Lenahan marked the third time in the last four games that the redshirt freshman finished in double figures and was one point off her season-high 16 points. Lenahan finished the game 5-of-14 from the floor while making 4-of-12 three-pointers. That performance, along with a 14-point outing from Clark, along with six block helped the Seahawks snap a three-game losing skid.
Wagner, who never led by double figures until the middle stages of the third quarter, led by as many as 19 courtesy of eight points apiece from Clark and Simmons.
"The game was closer than the score, but once we had to press we gave up some easy baskets," Reinson said.
Ellis had five of her team-leading eight points in the second half, as she added three assists to finish with at least three assists for the fifth time this season. The Oak Park, Mich., product inched closer to joining Longwood's (1-7) top 10 all-time assists, moving 21 assists away from tying Casey Sullivan for 10th in program history.
In addition, Ellis matched her career-high with four steals, as her and Autumn Childress secured seven of Longwood's nine steals. Stephanie Guihon finished with six points and five rebounds while Mallory Odell added six points along with nine boards, as Wagner's defense limited the Lancers to .222 shooting.
Sunday's game snapped a streak of two games in which Childress finished with a double-double and a stretch of three times in four games. The lone player in the Big South this season to average a double-double, Childress finished with three points, eight rebounds, marking just the third game this season that the senior pulled down less than 10 rebounds.
"It will be interesting to see how we respond," Reinson said. "The easy thing to do would be to feel sorry for ourselves and find excuses. I believe we have too much character in the locker room for that kind of response."
Following one game on the road, Longwood will return to Willett Hall Wednesday, Dec. 10, as the Lancers host Milligan. Longwood's first of two home Education Days, the Lancers and Buffalos are set for an 11:30 a.m., opening tip.
#GoWood
