NEW ROCHELLE, NY - The Iona College women's basketball team dropped a 68-60 decision to Toledo in the Iona Thanksgiving Classic finale. The Rockets (3-3) used a significant scoring run in each half in holding off the Gaels (1-4) at the Hynes Center.
Junior forward
Kristina Ford led Iona with 16 points and a season-best nine rebounds. Her classmate,
Tomica Bacic matched a season-high with 12 points and senior
Marissa Flagg posted 11 points and four assists in the loss.
With the Iona leading by one midway through the first half, Toledo scored 12 straight points and took a 25-14 lead with 8:10 in the frame. The Gaels would not let their opponents separate any further and trailed 31-23 after sophomore
Samantha Kopp converted a layup in the waning seconds.
The Maroon & Gold opened up the second half with a flurry. After surrendering a field goal on the first possession, Iona scored eight straight points to cut the deficit to just two points. Bacic was the star of the run, scoring seven points in the 90-second stretch. Ford gave Iona the lead at the 14:50 mark, burying a three-pointer from the wing and putting her squad ahead 38-37. A conventional three-point play by the Rockets and another Bacic jumper on back-to-back possessions knotted the score at 40-40 with 12:40 to play. Toledo began to pull away, scoring 10 straight points over the next 1:10. The Gaels would get as close as five points on two occasions, but could not erase the deficit and free throws in the final minutes accounted for the 68-60 win for Toledo.
Ford shot 5-for-11 from the field and drained four three-pointers for Iona. Bacic was 5-for-8 with four rebounds in 28 minutes. Senior
Suzi Fregosi posted six points and three assists.
The Gaels embark on a four-game road trip beginning on Wednesday when they travel to the BIG EAST's Marquette for an 8:00 pm tilt on Dec. 1. Iona will next play at the Hynes Center on Dec. 22.
Score by Periods 1st 2nd Total
Toledo........................ 31 37 - 68
Iona College.................. 23 37 - 60
