BUFFALO, NY - With a 60-48 win over Canisius at the Koessler Athletic Center, the Iona College women's basketball team has won back-to-back games for the second time this season and improved to 2-1 in MAAC action (6-8 overall).
The Gaels recorded the contest's first 11 points, as four of the squad's five starters put the ball through the net over the opening five minutes.
Thazina Cook added a layup at the 14:39 mark to give Iona an 11-0 lead before the Golden Griffins reached the scoring column on a Brittane Russell basket at 13:49.
The Maroon & Gold pushed its lead to 14 points on two occasions in the first half, holding a 24-10 advantage with 6:44 to go in the period. Canisius scored ten of the next 15 points to climb to within nine at halftime.
The Gaels got off to a slow start in the second half and saw their lead down to just three points at 34-31 four and a half minutes in. A bucket by
Anna McLean helped the team come back to form and put together a 10-3 run. Iona retained a comfortable lead throughout the remainder and went on to close out the 12-point victory.
Both Cook and
Anda Ivkovic finished with 14 points to lead Iona while McLean added 12 points and a team-high eight rebounds.
Kristina Ford had nine points on a 3-for-3 showing from beyond the arc in the second half. The Gaels were outrebounded in the contest, 33-28, but led 14-7 in steals and committed only 15 turnovers to Canisius's 27.
Iona looks to add another Western New York win when it takes on Niagara at 7:00 pm Monday.
