LOUDONVILLE, NY - The Iona College women's basketball team was outscored 14-6 in overtime on the way to a 75-67 loss in MAAC action at Siena. The Gaels hadn't lost back-to-back games in over a month, but have now dropped two straight after building a program-best nine game winning streak.
Iona (13-10,9-3) was dominant in the first half, leading the whole way following a 2-2 tie which began the contest. At the 17:52 mark, an
Anna McLean layup kicked off an 8-0 Gael run which put the visitors ahead 10-2. The spread hovered around nine points for the next several minutes until Iona registered another eight unanswered to take its largest lead of the day at 27-9 with 5:26 to go in the half.
In the opening stanza, Iona shot 40% from the floor and was 9-for-10 at the free throw line, taking a 36-22 lead into the lockerroom at the break.
The second half saw a huge turnaround as the Saints (8-13, 6-6) charged out of the gate, shrinking Iona's lead down to three over the first seven and a half minutes. Siena's Merrick Volpe and Allie Lindemann combined for five three-point field goals in the stretch. Trailing 51-49 with 8:54 on the clock, the Saints took their first lead of the game on the seventh of eight second-half Siena trifectas.
Siena led 59-57 when
Diana Hubbard banked one in off the glass to tie things up with 3:25 to go in regulation.
Suzi Fregosi and
Kristina Ford picked up two big steals on the Saints' next two possessions. Ford stole the ball in the backcourt and went for the layup but was fouled hard by Cristina Centeno. The technical gave Iona two shots at the line and possession of the ball. Ford made both free throws to give the Gaels at 61-59 edge. With 21 seconds to play, Lindemann knocked down a jumper to send the game into extra minutes.
McLean recorded a double-double in the loss to lead Iona with 16 points and ten rebounds.
Catherine Lutz added 14 points, with four treys on the day, while Hubbard had ten. Ford finished with six points on a 6-for-6 effort from the line and grabbed ten rebounds. Volpe and Serena Moore led four Saints in double figures with 17 points apiece.
Iona returns to action at Loyola with a 4:30 pm contest on Feb. 12.
