FAIRFIELD, CT - The Iona College women's basketball team's winless streak increased to five games as the Gaels dropped a 64-48 decision on the road at Fairfield.  The squad is now 0-3 to begin MAAC play for the first time since the 2002-03 season (4-11 overall) while the Stags improved to 3-0 in conference games and 10-3 overall.

Iona was once again marred by poor shooting in the first half, then recovered to keep pace with their opponent in the second half.  In the first 20 minutes of action, the Maroon & Gold shot just 10.3% with three field goals and 15 first half points.  Fairfield started out to a 9-0 lead over the opening 5:10 before Iona earned its first points on a Kristina Ford jumper at the 14:32 mark. 

Both sides faced shooting trouble late in the first period, with Iona scoring its last field goal of the half at 11:29 and Fairfield not picking up a basket past 7:52, when it held its largest lead of the half at 25-10.  Just three players: Taryn Johnson (12), Joelle Nawrocki (11), and Katelyn Linney (5) combined for all of Fairfield's 28 first half points.

The Gaels bounced back to shoot 33.3% in the second half, trailing the Stags by a slim 36-33 margin in the period.  At the final buzzer, Iona had matched its season high of 65 field goal attempts first set at Arizona and reached a new best for the year with 46 rebounds.

Marissa Flagg was the lone Gael to score in double figures, putting up 14 points on a 3-9 effort from the floor and an 8-11 output at the free throw line.  Ford, Jackie Marshall, and Anda Ivkovic each added six points while Ivkovic had a team-high 11 boards.

Johnson led all players with a career-best 22 points followed by Nawrocki's 15.  Iona held Fairfield to 26.7% from three-point range, the team's best defensive showing since keeping Bucknell to 0-5 on Dec. 18.

The Gaels return home to host Niagara at noon on Jan. 10.