New Rochelle, NY - The Iona College women's basketball team snapped a two-game losing streak with a 73-68 victory over Loyola at the Hynes Athletics Center. The loss was the third straight for the Greyhounds.
Senior Lauren DeFalco and freshman Cat Lutz each had 12 points to lead the Gaels (11-8, 5-3 MAAC). DeFalco also dished out ten assists for a double-double while Lutz hit four of six from three point range. Siobhan Prior was Loyola's (8-10, 3-5 MAAC) high scorer with 19 points.
Iona held control for much of the game, only trailing for just over five minutes in the first half when the Greyhounds took a six point lead on three straight baskets by Prior beginning at the 12:24 mark. The Gaels cut down that margin and pulled back in front on a Thazina Cook layup with 6:51 to go in the period.
The Maroon & Gold outscored the visitors 13-10 from that point in a run that included two trifectas by Lutz as Iona led by four at halftime.
The Gaels shot 55.2% in the second half and held as much as an 18-point advantage on two occasions. Trailing 57-39 with 8:51 remaining in the game, Loyola's Devon Carey netted a ball from beyond the arc to spark a 24-8 run which brought the Greyhounds to within two with 1:22 on the clock. Iona battled back and hung on for the victory.
The squad will be back in action on Sunday against Fairfield in the second game of a double header at the Arena at Harbor Yard.
