NEW ROCHELLE, NY - The Iona College women's basketball team started off its four game homestand with a 69-55 win over Siena in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference action at the Hynes Athletics Center. The Gaels (8-8, 4-1 MAAC) have now won four straight after dropping the conference opener.
After pulling ahead to a 6-2 lead to start the game, Iona gave up eight unanswered points and trailed the Saints 10-6 at the 15:40 mark. A jumper by
Thazina Cook and a pair of
Anda Ivkovic free throws helped the Maroon & Gold even the score briefly before Siena reclaimed the lead for the rest of the opening half.
Iona struggled in the first half, making just 24.2% of its shots from the floor as the Saints extended their advantage to ten points in the half's final minute.
Kristina Ford converted a three-point play with one second on the clock to make the score at halftime 28-22 in favor of the visitors.
Recharged following the break, Iona scored the first seven points of the second half to take a 29-28 lead just over two minutes in. Siena answered back, however, with a Merrick Volpe layup to pull back in front. Down by four, Cook drained a three-pointer to bring Iona to within one and Ford followed with a jumper to put the Gaels front once more.
Suzi Fregosi picked the Saints' pockets on Siena's next to possessions, intercepting the pass and taking it back to the hoop for a five-point Iona lead.
Catherine Lutz later knocked down back-to-back threes which extended the Gaels' advantage to 55-42 with 8:08 left to play, and Iona held on to its double digit lead through the remainder of the contest.
Cook paced the Gaels with 19 points and nine rebounds while adding three steals and a block. Ivkovic followed with ten points and Ford,
Anna McLean, and
Diana Hubbard each had eight. The Maroon & Gold turned their early struggle around to shoot 54.5% in the second half.
Serena Moore had 14 points to lead Siena, followed by 12 from Christina Centeno and ten from Volpe.
Iona returns to action in New Rochelle with a 5:00 pm tilt against Saint Peter's on Monday. The game is the first in a doubleheader with the men's squad, who takes on Rider at 7:30 pm.
