NEW ROCHELLE, NY - In the first of a two game homestand to close out the regular season, the Iona College women's basketball team (11-18, 7-10 MAAC) gave up a 17-point lead to lose by three in overtime to Loyola (18-10, 15-2 MAAC) at the Hynes Center. The Gaels are now 1-3 in overtime this season.
Iona led for 38:52 of 40 regulation minutes after opening a 2-0 edge one minute into the contest. The Gaels were in front by as many as 12 points in the first half and held a 31-26 advantage at halftime. The Greyhounds scored the first four points of the second half to pull to within one, 31-30 at the 18:11 mark.
Leading 52-44 with 9:30 to go in the game, a layup by
Tomica Bacic kicked off an 11-2 Gael run which had the squad up by a 17-point margin at 63-46 with 6:06 left in the second half. Loyola's Candice Walker hit a three-point field goal to turn the tides as the Greyhounds diminished the spread by ten over the next three minutes.
The Gaels led 70-59 with 1:48 on the clock after a made free throw by
Catherine Lutz, but Loyola ended the period scoring 12 of the last 13 points to tie the game for the first time at 71-all at the end of regulation. The overtime period began with a good jumper by Miriam McKenzie to give the visitors their first lead of the night, and Loyola would remain ahead for the rest of the game.
Iona had six players in double figures in the scoring column, led by Lutz's season-high 14 points.
Kristina Ford and
Milica Paligoric each picked up 12 points, followed by 11 from
Marissa Flagg and ten each from Bacic and
Anda Ivkovic. Ford paced Iona on the boards with nine rebounds while Flagg was one assist shy of her season-best with six.
For Loyola, Katie Sheahin led all players with 28 points. McKenzie finished with 23 points and 12 rebounds. Erica DiClemente also recorded a double-double with 12 points and ten boards. Iona held a 26-11 advantage in points off the bench.
The Gaels will conclude the 2010-11 regular season on Sunday (Feb. 27) hosting Manhattan on senior day. Tip-off is slated for 1:00 pm and the game will be followed by the Iona men's team taking on Fairfield. All fans are encouraged to attend.
