NEW YORK (Interstat) — A dominant first half defensive performance and a balanced scoring attack propelled the Wagner Seahawks to a 59-45 victory over the Le Moyne Dolphins in a Northeast Conference women’s basketball matchup on Thursday night at Spiro Sports Center.

The Seahawks (8-10, 2-3 NEC) seized control of the game by holding the visiting Dolphins (5-15, 2-3) to a season-low 15 points in the opening half. Wagner built a 35-15 halftime lead, limiting Le Moyne to just four points in the second quarter on 1-of-13 shooting from the floor. The Dolphins’ offensive struggles were compounded by 10 first-half turnovers, which Wagner converted into 11 points.

Irene Fernandez de Caleya, a guard from Tarragona, Spain, led all scorers with 15 points for Wagner, adding an assist and a block in 35 minutes. She was instrumental in the first-half surge. Fellow guard Keana Foz of Mississauga, Canada, contributed 12 points, two assists, and a game-high three steals, while Priscila Varela of Cabinda, Angola, chipped in 13 points and two assists. The interior presence was provided by Lijirin Doyinsola Modesayor of Kotor Varos, Nigeria, who finished with eight points, three assists, and two blocks.

Le Moyne, which entered the game having won two of its last three, found no consistent rhythm against Wagner’s defensive pressure. The Dolphins shot just 28 percent from the field for the game. Their leading scorer, Ashley Buragas of Hopewell Junction, New York, managed 13 points but needed 17 shot attempts to get there. Sydney Postell of Churchville, New York, was the only other Dolphin in double figures with 11 points.

The most important sequence of the game came late in the second quarter, effectively extinguishing any hope of a Le Moyne comeback before halftime. After a Postell free throw brought the Dolphins within 25-16 with 6:02 remaining, Wagner closed the half on a decisive 10-1 run. The spurt was fueled by defensive stops and efficient offense. Fernandez de Caleya hit a pair of free throws, Modesayor added two more from the line, and Alivia Landy converted a layup off a Maria Doreste assist. Fernandez de Caleya then capped the half with a jumper in the final minute, sending the Seahawks to the locker room with a commanding 20-point advantage.

Le Moyne showed a flicker of life after the break, opening the third quarter with a 9-2 run to cut the deficit to 37-24. However, Wagner responded immediately with a 9-2 run of its own, keyed by a Varela three-pointer and a Fernandez de Caleya jumper, to push the lead back to 46-26 and restore order. The Dolphins would get no closer than 13 points the rest of the way, as the Seahawks maintained a double-digit cushion throughout the fourth quarter.

Wagner’s defense was the story, holding an opponent under 50 points for the fifth time this season. The Seahawks also won the battle on the glass, outrebounding Le Moyne 45-38 and scoring 13 second-chance points.

The victory moved Wagner ahead of Le Moyne in the early NEC standings. The Seahawks, who were projected as favorites by Interstat’s ELO system, will look to build on the win when they travel to face Long Island on Saturday. Le Moyne, meanwhile, will try to regroup quickly as they return home to host Fairleigh Dickinson, also on Saturday. The two teams are scheduled for a rematch in Syracuse on Feb. 5.

The game drew an announced crowd of 397 to the Spiro Sports Center on Staten Island.