POUGHKLEEPSIE, NY - Heading into the game tied for first place in the MAAC, the Iona College women's basketball team dropped a 68-58 decision to Marist in front of a sold out crowd at the McCann Center. The Gaels (13-9, 9-2 MAAC) ended the night in second place while the Red Foxes (18-5, 10-1 MAAC) gained sole possession of the top spot.
Anda Ivkovic led Iona with 16 points and eight rebounds followed by ten points from rookie Diana Hubbard. Thazina Cook tallied a career-high 15 rebounds while adding nine points. Marist's Rachele Fitz led all players with 23 on a 10-for-16 showing.
The Red Foxes got off to a 3-0 lead on a three-pointer by Erica Allenspach. The Gaels then went on a 7-0 run bookended by Suzi Fregosi and Anna McLean layups to lead 7-3 at the 17:28 mark. Marist responded with its own nine-point tear to move ahead for good in the contest. The Red Foxes controlled by 15 points twice in the opening period, scoring 17 points on Iona's 13 first half turnovers.
The Maroon & Gold scored the first four points in the second frame to quickly cut Marist's lead down to nine at 39-30. Later, the Gaels trailed by 13 with 10:44 left to play when they netted seven of the next eight points to pull to within seven; the smallest margin they would reach for the rest of the night.
After ending a school record nine-game winning streak, the Gaels will look to bounce back when they take on Siena in a 1:00 pm road contest on Feb. 7.
