NEW ROCHELLE, NY - Freshman forward
Joy Adams scored a career high 23 points to lead the Iona College women's basketball team to a runaway 76-46 victory over Manhattan College Thursday afternoon at the Hynes Center, pushing the Gaels to an early 3-0 mark in conference play.
A three pointer by guard
Aaliyah Robinson with 18:32 remaining gave Iona a 3-0 advantage, a lead the team would not surrender during the duration of the contest.
Robinson's three helped the Gaels start the game with a 7-0 lead, before Manhattan went on an 8-2 run and cut the Iona lead to one, 9-8 with 12:46 remaining. Two buckets by Adams bookended a three pointer by freshman
Cassidee Ranger as Iona responded with another 7-0 run to push the lead to eight, 16-8, with 9:22 remaining in the first half.
With 5:20 remaining, Adams put in a layup to give Iona its first double digit lead, 23-12. Manhattan was able to cut the lead back to the single digits as a three-point play by Toni-Ann Lawrence with 4:13 remaining cut the Iona advantage to 26-17.
Iona responded by ending the half on a 12-4 run, as sophomore
Aleesha Powell scored seven points in the final four minutes of the period, including a buzzer beating three-pointer with one second remaining to push Iona's lead to 17, 38-21, at the half.
In the second half, a layup by Adams with 17:40 pushed Iona's lead to 21 points, 44-23, as the Gaels continued their strong shooting in the second 20 minutes of play.
A pair of free throws by freshman
Kadesia Johnson with 2:53 remaining gave Iona its largest lead, 76-44, as the Gaels cruised to its third straight victory, and sixth in their last eight matchups.
Adams shot 10-for-18 from the field and pulled down a team high nine rebounds. The six-time MAAC Rookie of the Week honoree is now averaging a team best 19 points per contest in conference play. Robinson, Powell and sophomore
Damika Martinez each finished with 12 points for the Gaels, while redshirt junior guard
Haley D'Angelo dished out a game high six assists. Allison Skrec led Manhattan with 14 points.
Iona is back in action Sunday, when they take on defending MAAC Champion Marist College at 2:00 pm.
