BUFFALO, NY - Trailing by one point at halftime, the Iona College women's basketball team, led by 16 points each by Anda Ivkovic and Kristina Ford, defeated Canisius 66-56 at the Koessler Athletic Center on Friday night.

The Gaels (10-17, 6-9 MAAC) trailed 4-0 early before mounting a 13-0 run to push their lead to nine points.  The Golden Griffins (8-18, 4-11 MAAC) went on to outscore Iona 28-18 for the remainder of the half to take a 32-31 lead into the locker room.  Iona was led by 10 points by Ivkovic in the first half.

Out of the break, Ford, who finished with 9 rebounds, and 5 steals to go along with her 16 points, had the first 11 Iona points of the second half knocking three triples in the first three minutes and fifty-one seconds.  Iona led by as many seven points before Ashley Durham knocked down a free throw to pull Cansius within two points, 49-47, with 9:31 remaining in the ballgame.  The Griffs continued to chop away at the lead and pulled to within a point when Micayla Drysdale swished home a pair of free throws at the 3:20 mark and it was 56-55.  The Griffins got no closer as the Gaels outscored the hosts 10-1 until the final buzzer to pull off the season sweep.

Iona outrebounded Cansius 39-35 and shot 42.0% from the field for the contest. Marissa Flagg wrapped up the double-figure efforts with 11 points and added a team-best five assists.  Iona held Cansius to 0-12 from beyond the arc, snapping a string of 510 straight games with a three-point field goal, which was an NCAA record.  It was the second time the Gaels held an opponent without a make from beyond the arc this season, the first which came at Bucknell on December 18th.  Steph MacDonald led the Griffs with 14 points and 10 rebounds, which was the second double-double of the year for Cansius.

The Gaels wrap up the Western New York swing with a game at the "Taps" Gallagher Center against the Niagara Purple Eagles.  Tip is scheduled for 2:00 pm.