New Rochelle, NY - Senior
Jessica Anger tossed in a season-high 16 points as the Iona College women's basketball team rolled past Fordham, 72-45.
Naeemah Ricketts grabbed a career-high nine rebounds for the Gaels (2-1), who never trailed against the Rams (0-3).
Lauren DeFalco also hit double figures for Iona with 11 points, including a 3-of-4 performance from beyond the three-point arc. Toni Horvath collected eight points, three rebounds, and seven assists.
Eight early points from Anger helped the Gaels jump out to an 18-9 lead at the 13:11 mark. An 8-0 run over a 1:39 stretch pushed the lead into double digits for the first time at 26-13.
After Fordham cut the lead to nine, DeFalco connected from the deep corner and Shezaray Rozzell hit a short jumper to make it 31-17 with 2:23 left. Iona would take a 35-22 advantage into the half.
Gina Giambanco scored the first bucket out of the break for the Rams before the Gaels ran off 11 unanswered to put the game out of reach. Back-to-back jumpers from Horvath, including one from beyond the arc, keyed the strecth as Iona went up 46-24 with 16:57 remaining.
The Rams managed to get back to within 15 before Horvath and Thazina Cook hit from deep in an Iona run that put the Maroon & Gold up 62-36 with less than six minutes to play. The lead reached 29 late in the game as the Gaels cruised to the win in their 2006-07 home debut.
Iona dominated in nearly every statistical category, including a 43-26 edge on the glass and a 31-2 advantage in bench points. After struggling from the field in their first two contests, the Gaels shot 44.1% from the field and a perfect 12-for-12 from the foul line.
The Iona defense was its usual disruptive self, holding the Rams to 28.6% shooting and forcing 15 turnovers. Beth Troutt, Fordham's leading scorer, was limited to two free throws as she went 0-for-12 from the floor.
The 27-point margin of victory is the largest in the history of the Iona-Fordham series, which the Rams now lead 22-13.
The Gaels will go for their second win of the season against a BIG EAST opponent on Nov. 21 when they travel to Seton Hall University for a 7:00 pm tip.
