Bronx, NY - Senior Jessica Smith matched her career high of 14 points and classmate Lauren DeFalco added 13 as the Iona College women's basketball team (2-4) defeated Fordham (0-8) by a score of 86-62. Freshman Anda Ivkovic set a new personal best with 12 points.
Raina Spencer led the Rams with 14 points, followed by Megan Mahoney and Beth Troutt who had 11 and 10, respectively.
DeFalco scored two of her three trifectas in the opening three minutes as the Maroon & Gold had bolted to a 12-0 lead by the 16:59 mark. Kristina Bell got Fordham its first points with a fast break layup less than a minute later. DeFalco added one more from behind the arc for a 13 point Iona advantage with 15:58 on the clock.
The Gaels would stretch their lead to as great as 23 points on a long ball from rookie Cat Lutz with 10:17 left to go in the half. The Rams then put together a 19-11 run to pull to within 15 at 44-29, but that was the closest they would come the rest of the contest. With the score at 52-31, Ivkovic hit two three-pointers in a span of 37 seconds to propel the visitors to a 27-point spread with 1:13 left before halftime.
Iona continued to lead by at least 20 points throughout the second half. Fordham cut the lead to 19 twice in the period, on a three-pointer by Troutt with 11:27 left and on a layup by Bell with 2:42 remaining.
The Maroon & Gold held a 41-32 rebound advantage, led by Smith and Anna McLean who had seven each. Tiara Headen's four steals were a game-high.
Iona will face its first MAAC opponent of the season when the squad travels to Marist on Dec. 7. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 pm.
