POUGHKEEPSIE, NY - The Iona College women's basketball team recorded its second straight loss with an 81-58 defeat at Marist.  The Gaels (9-6 overall) are now 2-2 in conference play while the Red Foxes (13-1) overall remain undefeated with a 4-0 MAAC record.

Kristina Ford led the Maroon & Gold with 17 points and seven steals while Thazina Cook added 16 points.  For Marist, Rachele Fitz had a game-leading 26 points and 16 rebounds.

Fitz scored seven points in the first 3:37 as the Red Foxes opened a 12-0 by 16:23 mark and never looked back.  Behind 21-7, Iona got a three-pointer from Cook and a pair of Marissa Flagg free throws to get within nine, 21-12, with 9:28 to go in the half. Marist responded with a 9-3 run capped by a Fitz basket to go ahead 30-15 with 5:43 to go. The Red Foxes capped the half with a Lynzee Johnson three with four seconds remaining to take a 38-24 lead into the locker room.

Iona (9-5, 2-2 MAAC) cut Marist's lead to 11 early in the second half, as Ford knocked down one of her five three-pointers to make the score 42-31 with 17:20 left in the game.  The Red Foxes quickly got their advantage back up to 16 with two Allenspach free throws and a Johnson triple, making the score 47-31. After a Naeemah Ricketts free throw made the score 50-39 with 12:49 to go, Marist went on a 10-0 run sparked by an Allenspach three-pointer to take a 60-39 lead with 10:38 to go. Iona only got as close as 12 the rest of way as a Kristine Best trifecta gave the Red Foxes their largest lead, 81-56, with 20 seconds left.

Iona returns to action on Jan. 11, hosting Canisius at the Hynes Athletics Center at 2:00 pm.