PRINCESS ANNE, MD- Sophomore Kristina Ford hit a three-pointer with 1.7 ticks left to propel the Iona College women's basketball team to a 53-50 win over Maryland-Eastern Shore in non-conference action at the W.P. Hytche Center. Senior Thazina Cook had a game-high 19 points in the win.
The Gaels (3-4) started off slowly on the road falling behind 13-4 less than seven minutes in. Junior Suzi Fregosi's jumper with 10:25 to play began an 8-0 run that got the Maroon & Gold within one point just over two minutes later. Five quick points by the Hawks made the margin 20-14 but another 8-0 run put Iona ahead 22-20 with just under three minutes left in the half. After a UMES three-pointer by Amber Cook, Iona scored the half's final seven points to take a five point lead into the break. In total, the Gaels out scored their opponent 25-8 in the second half of the frame.
Iona held a single-digit lead throughout the second half, going up by as many as eight on another Fregosi layup with 17:26 to play. The Hawks chipped away to erase the deficit and took a four-point advantage with 5:33 to play. Trailing by a point, freshman Diana Hubbard converted a conventional three-point play at the 1:28 mark. Maryland-Eastern Shore's Amber Cook scored on the next possession to knot the score at 48-48. The two teams traded free throws and Cook tied the score again with 13 seconds remaining and set up the game's final possession and Ford's game winner.
Hubbard scored 11 points off the bench, shooting 4-of-5 from the field with one three-pointer and a 2-of-3 effort from the free throw line. Cook shot 6-for-12 from the field and added five rebounds and three steals. Fregosi had seven points with four assists and six steals in the win. Ford's three pointer was her lone bucket of the contest.
Amber Cook scored five of her team-high 10 points in the final five minutes of the contest to lead the Hawks.
The Gaels complete their season-long five-game stint away from home on Wednesday night at Metropolitan Area rival Fordham.
