HACKENSACK, N.J. – The Fairleigh Dickinson women's basketball team tied the score at 13 at the end of the first quarter but Wagner then scored the first 11 points of the second quarter to take a 24-13 lead and never let Fairleigh Dickinson get within two possessions to win 74-66.

"Wagner played a very solid game and great secodn quarter," said head coach Peter CInella. "We had some good moments in the second half but we have to do a better job of finding the open man and hitting those open shots."
 
Fairleigh Dickinson (5-17, 3-8 NEC) scored the first four points of the game but that would not lead again once Wagner (3-19, 2-9 NEC) took a 6-4 lead on a Corinn Baggs tip-in.
 
The final seven points of the first quarter would go to the Knights. Capped by a three-pointer from Jenna Clark to tie the game at 13 after one.

Two three-pointers from Julia McClure and five points from Kerstie Phills made up the 11-0 run by the Seahawks. The lasted over the first 4:26 of the second quarter.
 
Wagner, who led by 14 at halftime, worked the lead out to as many as 18 in the third quarter – 38-20 – on a Jackie Dluhi jumper.

The Knights would then slowly chip away at the deficit. A 10-3 run over 2:09 in the third quarter would eventually cut the lead to 10 – 40-30 – with 2:45 left in the quarter. Madelynn Comly scored five, Brianna Thomas added a three and Clark hit a jumper. The Seahawks then moved the lead back out to 13 by the end of the quarter.

In the fourth quarter, Wagner lengthened the lead to 17 points on two different occasions. One with 5:53 left in the game and a second time with 4:26 to play.

Fairleigh Dickinson cut the lead to 11 with 2:13 left on a pair of Kiana Brown free throws. However, the Knights were unable to get to within eight until 40 seconds remained on a pair of Comly free throws. Amina Markovic added her fourth double-double of the season with 11 points and 10 rebounds.

Wagner scored its final nine points from the free-throw line over the final 49 seconds to keep Fairleigh Dickinson at bay.

Five Seahawks were in double figures, led by Kerstie Phills with 18 points.

The Knights were led by Brown and Comly with 13 points each. Brown was 5-of-11 from the field while Comly was 1-of-12 from the field but 10-of-10 from the charity stripe. The 10 free throws made are the most of her career.

Wagner shot 48-percent from the field compared to Fairleigh Dickinson's 30.3-percent. The teams were even on free throws made (20) and three-pointers made (6). The Knights were even plus-17 on the backboards.

Up next for Fairleigh Dickinson is a home game with the Pioneers of Sacred Heart on Monday at 7 p.m. in the Rothman Center.