MT. CARMEL, Ill. -- "Great players," Wabash Valley women's basketball coach Luke Scheidecker would say in characterizing Shaulana Wagner. "When the lights come on in big games, that's what they do."
With the lights as bright as they have been this season, what Wagner did was put on a show for the ages Saturday afternoon in the NJCAA Game of the Week on ESPN+. The 5-foot-10 sophomore guard from Detroit set a new school single-game scoring record of 47 points to lead 14th-ranked Wabash Valley to a 91-75 victory over No. 17 Three Rivers.
Wagner eclipsed the previous mark of 46 points, set by first-team All-American Keya Patton on Nov. 20, 2019, against Olney Central, midway through the fourth quarter, much to the delight of the large and boisterous crowd gathered at Spencer Sports Center.
All her points came underneath the arc line, and mostly inside. Against a formidable Three Rivers zone defense, no less.
"They were packing it in, daring her to shoot jump shots," said Scheidecker of the Lady Raider game plan. "She just cut them up and went for layups. An incredible performance."
Wabash Valley improved to 15-1 with the win and extended its' home-court winning streak to 94 games. Three Rivers, riding a six-game winning streak coming in, fell to 12-2 with the loss.
WVC jumped to a 27-16 lead by the first quarter break. The Lady Warriors only struggle of the day, though, came in the second period, when Three Rivers scored the first nine points of the frame and eventually grabbed a 34-32 lead at the four-minute mark.
There came Wagner again, hitting a shot to tie the game at 36-all, before stealing a pass and dishing to Chanteese Craig for the bucket that put the hosts back in the lead, at 38-36.
Wagner's rebound basket and two free throws with 1:18 left in the half completed the eight-point surge that turned things back around. By halftime, the Lady Warrior lead was 43-38.
"It is a game of runs," Wagner said. "We just tried to keep our composure and get our run back after theirs."
The third period was nothing short of a roundball masterpiece by the Lady Warriors. It seemed as if they had their hands on every Lady Raider pass and/or shot. WVC won the quarter, 32-13, turning this marquee matchup into a rout. It was 75-51 after three periods.
"We have been working all year for one of these moments," said Wagner, a 4.0 student in the classroom last semester as well. "That is how we get most of our points, is defense. Everything leads to defense."
The Lady Warriors cruised in from there in the fourth frame, extending the lead to 26 points before Three Rivers chipped away late to account for the final margin of 16 points.
When these two met for the first time, back on Nov. 5th at Three Rivers in Poplar Bluff, it was the Lady Raiders' time to shine, with a quick getaway en route to a 91-79 win.
The resultant 28-point swing was not lost on Scheidecker.
"That was the first game of the year," he said. "We took better care of the ball in this game. And our defense has gotten a lot better. That has led to stops, turnovers, and we executed better."
Wabash Valley put two other players in double figures besides Wagner. Brooklyn Gray finished with 14 points, and Yiesha Williams 11 for the winners.
Three Rivers was led by Ahniya Melton with 13 points.
A late change to the schedule shows the Lady Warriors' next game will not be on Monday against Volunteer State. That game will be rescheduled later, according to school officials.
Instead, they will play next on Wednesday at Jefferson, Mo.