Fairfield — The winning, seven straight now for the Stony Brook University women's basketball team, the rebounding, the success, are all things a person would associate with India Pagan, the former New London High School great.

"She's a special player to coach," Stony Brook coach Caroline McCombs said following Tuesday's 73-58 victory at Sacred Heart to make it lucky seven.

There's also another part of Pagan's maturation process. The 6-foot-1 forward is now a sophomore at Stony Brook, bringing with that a greater expectation level.

Pagan may have graduated from New London with more than 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds, she may currently lead Stony Brook in rebounding — she came into Tuesday's game averaging a team-high 5.6 rebounds per game — but McCombs believes she can be even better.

Pagan, who has started all eight games for the Seawolves (7-1), was boxed out a few times early in the game against Sacred Heart and quickly found herself on the bench. She played just 8 minutes, 43 seconds in the first half.

"Probably rebounding," Pagan, the rebounder, said of what she needs to work on the most. "I can sometimes get boxed out instead of going around. I feel like I could get more rebounds. ... I wasn't doing really good in the first half. I got yelled at. That made me turn up the fire."

Pagan responded ably to the critique.

She finished with 12 points, nine rebounds and two blocked shots — she was one rebound away from a double-double when she limped off the court with 2:34 remaining after twisting her ankle. And it was the third quarter, one which was strikingly familiar to those who know her, which turned the night into a positive.

Pagan, her team wearing its red road jerseys, and her in her usual No. 33, played the entire third quarter before McCombs gave her a breather.

Less than two minutes into the third quarter, she spun and drew a foul on 6-4 Sacred Heart center Madison Cheatham. She hit one of two free throws for a 36-32 lead.

Twelve seconds later she blocked a shot, leading to a fast break layup by teammate Shania Johnson. Pagan followed with a defensive rebound, a finely tuned jump shot from the right baseline assisted by Johnson for a 40-32 advantage, and another defensive rebound.

A 3-pointer by Stony Brook's Jerell Matthews made it 43-32 and prompted a Sacred Heart timeout. Shortly thereafter, Johnson drilled a 3-point field goal behind a screen from Pagan. Pagan added another block. She missed a layup, but engineered the putback as Stony Brook led 50-37.

Pagan spun and was fouled, once again hitting one of two free throws. And she finished the quarter on a defensive rebound with 6.7 seconds remaining.

"Of course," Pagan said of soaking in Stony Brook's winning streak, which included an 81-70 victory at Penn State on Nov. 25 for the Seawolves' first win in program history over a Power Five opponent. "No one really likes to lose. ... That's a big part of it here. We have fun off the court as well."

"She's awesome," McCombs said. "Such a great personality. How much she cares about her teammates really is special. It really is contagious."

The Seawolves are being led by Johnson, nicknamed "Shorty" (she is 5-foot-1), who is the three-time reigning America East Player of the Week. Johnson had 15 assists to break the school and conference single-game records in a win over New Paltz on Nov. 28.

Pagan, averaging 11.3 points per game prior to Tuesday and leading Stony Brook in field goal percentage (.618), also had a career day against New Paltz, finishing with 18 points on 7-for-10 shooting, eight rebounds and two assists.

"She has such a huge up side," McCombs said. "So many positive things. I want her to see it every step of the way. She's just going through the process right now. Getting in the weight room. Conditioning. Nagging injuries.

"India can be as good as she wants to be. It's a matter of challenging her and pushing her. I know she wants to be great. I want her to be challenged."

Pagan, The Day's 2017 All-Area Girls' Basketball Player of the Year, won two state championships during her career at New London. She averaged 15.8 points and 15.8 rebounds in six state tournament games her senior season to lead the Whalers (26-2) to the Class LL state title and the state's No. 1 ranking.

Pagan has spent the last three summers competing in Puerto Rico, including a stint last summer on the Puerto Rican National Team. She's hoping to earn that distinction again next year.

"They both even themself out," Pagan said. "Playing (in Puerto Rico) made me more confident for this season and this is preparing me for my next tryout there, summer next year. I'm hoping I can (make the team again).

"We lost three big rebounders (to graduation). Now it's on the rest of the (Stony Brook) posts to go get rebounds. ... I love it here. I don't like the cold, but I like the girls," Pagan said. "We have finals coming up. But I'm already a sophomore. Now I'm helping the freshmen."

v.fulkerson@theday.com