FAIRFIELD, CT - The Iona College women's basketball team ended a two-game winning streak with a 72-59 road loss to Fairfield at Alumni Hall.  It was the first time the Gaels have lost to the Stags since 2004-05.

The contest featured nine tied scores, seven of which came in the first half, and ten lead changes.  Fairfield (14-12, 8-7 MAAC) opened with a 4-0 lead before Iona (15-11, 11-4 MAAC) scored six of the next eight points to tie the game at 6-6 at the 15:32 mark.  The squads traded baskets and the Gaels pulled out to a five-point lead at 15-10 with 12:35 on the clock.

After much back and forth action, the score was tied at 29-all after Milica Paligoric connected on a pair of free throws with 26 seconds left in the half.  Taryn Johnson netted a layup for the Stags with two seconds to go to give Fairfield a 31-29 halftime advantage.

The second half continued in similar fashion, with neither team able to pull away by more three over the first ten minutes.  Fairfield managed to break through to a six-point spread with just under seven minutes left in the game and held on for the remainder.  Desiree Pina went 8-for-8 from the charity stripe over the final 3:42 to help pad Fairfield's lead late.

Iona led 47-44 in rebounds but struggled with its shooting, sinking only 29.5% from the field and 18.5% from beyond the arc.  Anna McLean (11 points, 12 rebounds) and Thazina Cook (13 points, 10 rebounds) both had double-doubles for the Gaels.  Kristina Ford was Iona's high scorer with 17 points along with seven boards.

The Maroon & Gold wraps up a three-game road set with the final away contest of the season on Feb. 21.  The squad takes on Saint Peter's at 2:00 pm.