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Coach Ashley Langford

Photo courtesy of Stony Brook Athletics

Khari Clark knocked down a game-tying shot with 33 seconds left on the clock to send the game to overtime, but the Stony Brook women’s basketball team was outscored 10-8 in the extra period and fell 75-73 to the Campbell Camels on the road Jan. 21, halting their 10 game winning streak. 

The Seawolves (15-2, 5-1) had four players score in double figures, led by Victoria Keenan, who had a season-high 18 points in 29 minutes, the most minutes for the guard this season. Gigi Gonzalez tacked on 15 points and five assists and Khari Clark helped out with 13 points. Stony Brook out-rebounded Campbell 41-31 in Sunday’s game, led by nine boards from Shamarla King. The Seawolves also pulled down 11 offensive rebounds and scored eight second chance points.

After falling behind 4-0, Stony Brook went on an 8-0 run with 7:01 left in the first quarter, culminating in a bucket from Gonzalez, to take an 8-4 lead. The Seawolves then added four points to that lead by the end of the period and entered the quarter break with a 15-7 advantage, finishing the quarter on a 12-2 run. Stony Brook knocked down two shots from deep to account for six of its 15 points.

Stony Brook kept its first quarter lead intact before going on a 5-0 run starting at the 8:36 mark in the second period, highlighted by a bucket from King, to increase its lead to 22-9. The Camels cut into that lead, but the Seawolves still enjoyed a 26-22 advantage heading into halftime. Stony Brook was strong from deep in the period, knocking down two three-point shots to account for six of its 11 points, by Brantley and Keenan. 

The squad continued to preserve its halftime lead before going on a 5-0 run to expand its lead further to 31-24 with 8:24 to go in the third. Before the conclusion of the third period, the Camels had cut into that lead, but the Seawolves still entered the fourth quarter with a 45-44 edge. Stony Brook played well near the basket, scoring 12 of its 19 points in the paint, led by nine points from Clark in the post. 

Stony Brook then surrendered that advantage as Campbell came back to take a 65-63 with two minutes remaining. But, Clark came up clutch for the Seawolves with her game-tying basket with just 33 seconds remaining to force OT. Pittman and Gonzalez led the scoring in fourth with eight and five points each, respectively. Campbell then edged ahead in overtime, leaving Stony Brook behind 75-73 at the final buzzer. 

“We didn’t defend well today and ultimately didn’t get the defensive stops that we needed to win the game,” said head coach Ashley Langford. “We will learn from this and get better.” The team will return to the court on Jan. 28, as they host Drexel for their first of two meetings this season at 2 p.m.

Anastasia Warren recorded her third 20-point performance of the season at last Saturday's game. Photo from Stony Brook Athletics

The Stony Brook women’s basketball team battled tough, but was ultimately edged by Bucknell, 64-58, on Dec 3 in Sojka Pavilion in Lewisberg, PA. Graduate guard Anastasia Warren paced the Seawolves with a game-high 20 points as she recorded her third 20-point performance of the season and first since November 14, against Iona.

The Bison outlasted the Seawolves in a back-and-forth contest. The score was tied a total of 11 times and the lead changed five times. Stony Brook led 46-42 with 1:59 to play in the third quarter following a pair of free-throws by sophomore forward Sherese Pittman. Bucknell used a 10-2 run that carried over into the fourth quarter to take a lead it would not relinquish.

Stony Brook battled until the final buzzer as it cut the Bison lead to as little as three points with 22.6 seconds to play. With 22.6 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, Warren knocked down a three-pointer off a feed from senior guard Gigi Gonzalez.

 Bucknell was able to close the game out down the stretch as Tai Johnson converted three of her four free-throw attempts over the final 22.6 seconds to give the Bison a 64-58 advantage, a score it would hold on to win by.

Warren finished as the game’s leading scorer with 20 points. The guard shot 9-of-23 from the field and 2-of-8 from three-point range. She grabbed four rebounds and swiped a season-high tying three steals. It marked Warren’s third 20-point game of the season as she also scored 20 points against Manhattan on November 10 (28 points) and against Iona on November 14 (28 points). Her 23 field goal attempts were a career-high.

Graduate forward Nairimar Vargas-Reyes nearly recorded a double-double with nine points and a season-high 12 rebounds. She shot 4-of-8 from the field and six of her 12 rebounds were of the offensive variety. The forward has pulled down 10 or more rebounds in four games this season. Sophomore forward Sherese Pittman scored nine points on 3-of-10 shooting, dished out a career-high five assists, and recorded three rebounds. Graduate guard Daishai Almond scored seven points, while senior guard Gigi Gonzalez totaled five points, four rebounds, two assists, and two steals.

Stony Brook won the battle for the boards by outrebounding Bucknell, 35-31.

“Bucknell is a good team that challenged us today. We will learn from this and continue to get better,” said head coach Ashley Langford after the game.

Head coach Ashley Langford celebrates her team's victory during last Monday's game. Photo from Stony Brook Athletics

The Stony Brook women’s basketball team bounced back after a tough loss to Maine to defeat UMBC, 64-48, on Feb. 14 in Baltimore, Md. The Seawolves improve to 21-3, 12-2 America East on the season.

Graduate forward Leighah-Amori Wool lit up the scoreboard for Stony Brook leading all scorers with a season-high 23 points. Wool is the latest player to knock down 20+ points since graduate forward India Pagan finished with 21 against Binghamton on Jan. 19.

Senior guard Anastasia Warren and Pagan followed behind Wool also finishing in double-figures on the night. Pagan finished with 14 points and added 10 rebounds to secure her fifth career double-double and second on the season. Warren filled the stat sheet for the Seawolves chipping in 12 points and grabbing a season-high nine rebounds.

 Stony Brook came out strong with an early lead, but the Retrievers would eventually take a 28-22 lead off a 9-0 scoring run in the second quarter. The Seawolves were able to gain momentum in the second half and come out on top after a layup from Wool to 9:38 to go in the third quarter. Stony Brook would not trail for the remainder of the contest.

The team was back in action Feb. 16 when they took on UMBC back home at The Island. Results were not available as of press time. 

Photo from Stony Brook Athletics

The Stony Brook University women’s basketball team (9-2, 0-1 America East) put together a valiant come-from-behind effort, but fell to NJIT (6-6, 1-0 America East), 54-49, in the conference opener on Dec 30.
 
NJIT took the lead early in the first quarter and controlled it for the duration of the contest. The Seawolves trailed 16-4 after the first quarter and the early deficit proved to be the difference. Following the first quarter, Stony Brook went on to outscore NJIT, 45-38, over the final three quarters of play.
 
The Seawolves cut the Highlanders’ lead to as little as two points with 1:53 to play in the game. Junior guard Gigi Gonzalez absorbed contact and converted a driving layup, which brought Stony Brook within two points of the lead, 48-46.

NJIT was able to hang on to its lead and seal the win despite being outscored by Stony Brook, 16-12, in the fourth quarter. The Seawolves had a trio of student-athletes finish in double figures with senior guard Anastasia Warren leading the way with a game-high 15 points. Gonzalez registered 14 points, while graduate forward Leighah-Amori Wool tallied 11 points.
 
STATS AND NOTES:

  • Warren led all scorers with a game-high 15 points. The guard did a bulk of her damage from the free-throw line as she went a perfect 7-of-7 from the stripe. It was the fifth time this season that she finished a game scoring in double figures.
  • Gonzalez poured in 14 points on 5-of-12 shooting from the field and 4-of-5 shooting from the free-throw line. The guard recorded two rebounds and two steals in 36 minutes of play. It was the eighth time this season that she scored in double-digits.
  • Wool finished the game with 11 points and four rebounds. The forward is closing in on 1,000 career points as her 11 points this afternoon brought her career total to 993.
  • Graduate forward India Pagan scored six points, pulled down six rebounds, and swiped three steals.
  • Junior guard Veronica Charles came off the bench to pull down six rebounds in 17 minutes of action.

“NJIT was the better team today. We will learn and grow from this loss,” said head coach Ashley Langford following Stony Brook’s America East opener on Thursday at NJIT.

The team is back in action on Sunday, January 2, when it hosts Hartford at 2 p.m. The game is set to air on ESPN+ with Sam Neidermann (play-by-play) and Rob Pavinelli (analyst) on the call. Be sure to purchase your tickets now to be a part of the action!

The team celebrates after Sunday's game Photo courtesy of Stony Brook Athletics

For the first time in program history, the Stony Brook women’s basketball team (9-1) defeated a Power Five opponent at home.

The Seawolves knocked off Washington State (8-3), 69-62, on Sunday, Dec. 19 inside Island Federal Arena behind the trio of senior guard Earlette Scott, senior guard Annie Warren, and graduate forward India Pagan all scoring in double-digits. The victory is also Stony Brook’s first over a Pac-12 opponent.

Scott led the Seawolves in scoring with a team-high 20 points on an efficient 7-of-14 shooting from the floor. Warren finished with 14 points and did a bulk of her damage in the contest in the second half, as she totaled ten points over the final 20 minutes. Pagan added 12 points and graduate forward Leighah-Amori Wool pulled down 10 rebounds to aid Stony Brook to their ninth victory of the season.

After a back-and-forth first half, the Seawolves used an 8-0 scoring run in the third to take the lead at 42-37. Following that run, they never looked back as they did not trail for the remainder of the contest.

“Really proud of this team today, that’s a quality Washington State team who’s super physical. That’s a good team and a quality win for us. We have been balanced and people have been stepping up for us. … Nobody is doing one thing, everyone is contributing. If something’s not working for them they step up in other ways. I’m just really proud that we were able to finish strong through this break with a win,” said head coach Ashley Langford.

“It feels great. This is no surprise to me and the work I put in and the team. I’m really happy that we got the win and we can go into the Christmas break with some confidence,” said senior guard Earlette Scott.

The team celebrates after Friday night's game Photo courtesy of Stony Brook Athletics

For the third time in its last four games, the Stony Brook University women’s basketball team (8-1) had at least four student-athletes score in double figures en route to a victory.

The Seawolves knocked off Penn (4-7), 75-69, on Dec. 10 inside Island Federal Arena behind the quartet of graduate forward India Pagan, junior guard Gigi Gonzalez, senior guard Earlette Scott, and graduate forward Leighah-Amori Wool all scoring in double-digits.

Pagan led the way with a season-high 20 points on an efficient 8-of-15 shooting from the floor as she dominated down low. Gonzalez finished the game with 14 points and did a bulk of her damage in the contest in the second half as she totaled nine points over the final 20 minutes. Scott and Wool each added 10 points apiece as they helped guide the Seawolves to their eighth victory of the season.

After a back and forth first half, Stony Brook used a 12-0 scoring run that carried over from the first half into the second to build its lead. The Seawolves were able to go ahead, 43-36, at the conclusion of the scoring spurt. Following that run, Stony Brook never looked back as it led for the remainder of the contest and secured its conference leading eighth win of the season.

The Seawolves’ lead grew to as large as 13 points in the fourth quarter as Gonzalez gave Stony Brook its biggest advantage of the game as she converted a driving layup with 6:35 to play. Penn responded and got within five points of the lead with 4:52 to play in the game, but the Seawolves were able to fend off the Quakers’ come-from-behind attempt.

“I’m proud of how we found a way to win – we were resilient today. We’ve had a lot of moving pieces and parts; I’m really glad that they locked in for 40 minutes and were able to be resilient, kept fighting, and found a way. I’m pleased to get a win right before we go on a long break. Overall, I’m just proud of the way they keep being resilient, growing, and pushing through all the adversity that we had,” said head coach Ashley Langford.

By Daniel Dunaief

Daniel Dunaief

Before each game, the Stony Brook University women’s basketball team meditates.

The pre-game ritual, among other changes and additions first-year Coach Ashley Langford instituted, has worked, as the team has a 7-1 record and sits first in the America East division.

Meditating “calms us and helps us visualize what we want to see in a game,” said India Pagan, a starter for Stony Brook and a graduate student with an extra year of eligibility because of the COVID pandemic.

A standout guard for Tulane University who finished her college career first in assists, Langford appreciates how hard the team has worked and how well they’ve come together.

“Our chemistry has been really good early on, to the point where, sometimes, [I wonder] is it November or is it March?” she said.

With five players averaging double digits in scoring, Stony Brook becomes harder to guard.

“On any given night, we’re moving and sharing the ball,” Langford said. “They are selfless. They don’t care who has the most points.”

While earning a spot in March Madness this year for just the second time in the program’s history would be rewarding, Langford focuses on each game.

“I’m a person that stays in the moment,” Langford said. “As long as we’re getting better, that puts us in a position to win the next game.

To that end, Langford would like the team to continue to improve in its transition defense.

She would like to see the team, which includes starters Earlette Scott, Gigi Gonzalez, Leighah-Amori Wool, Anastasia Warren and Pagan, continue to collect more offensive rebounds.

Langford’s assistant coaches, which includes recruiting coordinator Shireyll Moore, have been searching for players who might join the program as student-athletes.

“We’re in the position we are today because we have pretty good players,” Langford said. “My staff does a lot of this. They are more actively involved in the recruiting” each day.

Stony Brook has signed three current high school seniors and is focusing on juniors.

Before each game, Langford’s assistant coaches watch film of their opponents. They give her a cheat sheet before she watches film as well.

While Langford plans to stick to the team’s strengths, she will add a few wrinkles depending on the insights she gains about her opponents.

In the team’s first loss, Pagan and Warren were unavailable to play for medical reasons.

The team could have gone to Fordham feeling defeated, but the players fought to the end in a game they lost, 71-59.

“They don’t like losing, we don’t like losing,” Langford said. “They have responded well this week.”

The start of a season as head coach has taught Langford several lessons, including pacing herself and, in particular, protecting her voice. She drinks tea all day long and tells her staff to remind her not to yell in practice, because she shouts over the band at games.

In practice, Langford grabs a ball periodically to demonstrate what she’d like to see from her players.

As for her activity during the game, Langford sits only for about the first 30 seconds and then works the sidelines.

Pagan appreciates the work Langford puts in and the way her new coach has improved her game. While she used to get three or four rebounds a game, she’s often snagging 10 or more.

Pagan also sees herself hustling more, particularly after Langford created a drill where the players dive for loose balls.

“Before, I wouldn’t think of diving for a ball. Now, it’s ingrained into my head,” Pagan said. “The hustle doesn’t stop until the whistle blows. You play until you can’t play any more.”