TUCSON, AZ - The Iona College women's basketball team (4-7) broke a two-game winning streak with a 79-32 loss at Arizona (9-2). The Gaels continue the two game road trip at Northern Arizona on Thursday.
The Maroon & Gold struggled offensively, shooting a season-low 20.0% from the floor. Junior
Kristina Ford was the squad's high scorer with nine points and added five rebounds, one block, and a game-leading four steals.
Milica Paligoric led off the glass with eight boards while she and sophomore
Diana Hubbard posted five points each.
The Wildcats scored the first four points of the contest before Iona cut it to 4-3 on a three-pointer by Hubbard at 18:14. The hosts then surged to a 28-12 advantage by the 7:45 mark before logging 13 straight points to lead 41-12 with a minute and a half to go in the opening period. The Gaels closed first half scoring on a jumper by
Tomica Bacic with 40 seconds remaining. Arizona would then open the second half with a 13-0 run over the first 5:20.
The Gaels were forced to play without senior captain
Suzi Fregosi, and the team's second-leading scorer,
Anda Ivkovic, was limited to just 14 minutes of playing time with back pain.