Albany, NY - With major production from all five starting players, the Iona College women's basketball team beat Fairfield, 74-69, in the semifinal round of the 2008 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championships. The win propels the Gaels to a spot in the championship final for the second straight year.

Iona was led by 17-point contributors Tiara Headen and Anna McLean. Jessica Smith and Lauren DeFalco, who scored her 1,000th career point in the first half, both added 11 points. The Maroon & Gold shot 90% from the free throw line, sinking 18 of 20 attempts.

Sabra Wrice was the morning's high scorer and led the Stags with 18 points, followed by 16 from Lauren Groom.

Fairfield charged out of the gate, scoring the first four points and taking a nine point lead at 15-6 by the 14:33 mark. The Gaels pulled together to compile a 19-4 run, capped by a three point bucket from Cat Lutz, and held the Stags scoreless for nearly six minutes en route to a 25-17 edge.

A seven point Iona lead at the intermission was quickly erased as Fairfield took over on a Wrice trifecta at 16:17 in the second half. A 40-39 advantage would be the last lead of the contest for the Stags, however, as a McLean layup turned the tides and put Iona in control for the remainder.

Iona outscored Fairfield 36-16 in the paint but were outnumbered 19-8 in second chance points, with the Stags holding a one rebound advantage.

The Gaels will face first seeded Marist in the championship game, taking place Sunday at 11:00 am.