NEW ROCHELLE, NY - The Iona College women's basketball team snapped a string of back-to-back losses with a convincing 63-47 victory over Canisius at the Hynes Center.  The Gaels improve to 14-10 overall and 10-3 in conference play while making Canisius the third MAAC team swept by the Maroon & Gold during the regular season.

Iona was a force straight from the opening tip, taking a 2-0 lead in the first 20 seconds.  The Gaels held the Golden Griffins to just one field goal, a three pointer by Brianna Lucas at 19:13, over the first ten minutes and went on to score 14 unanswered points to lead 16-3.  Senior Anna McLean scored eight of Iona's first 11 points.

Canisius scored the first eight points of the second half, including two trifectas, to cut a 19-point Gael lead at halftime down to 11.  Suzi Fregosi countered with a trey of her own to stop the run by the Griffs.

McLean went on to record her sixth double-double of the year with a game-high 16 points and 15 rebounds along with two blocks.  Kristina Ford also had a double-double on 15 points and ten rebounds.  Milica Paligoric matched her career-best with five blocks and grabbed ten boards.  Fregosi tied her personal standard with seven rebounds and dished four assists, while Catherine Lutz came off the bench to add nine points on 3-4 from beyond the arc.

Iona amassed its highest rebound total since the season opener against Arizona, leading Canisius 54-40 on the boards.  The Gaels established a solid inside game with a 24-6 advantage in points in the paint and also shot well from the perimeter with nine three-pointers.  Iona's bench contributed 16 points compared to eight by the Canisius reserves, and the squad led 11-10 in points off turnovers despite commiting 23 to Canisius's 15.

The Gaels play their next three games on the road beginning with a contest at Loyola on Feb. 17.  The game will be the second of four played by Iona over a seven-day span.