NEW ROCHELLE, NY - The Iona College women's basketball team halted a two-game skid with a 83-70 victory over the University of the Pacific Friday evening in non-conference action at the Hynes Athletics Center.

Despite battling foul trouble for the majority of the contest, junior guard Damika Martinez scored a game high 28 points on 8-for-11 shooting from the field and a 10-for-11 effort from the foul line. Junior Aleesha Powell has a season high 23 points on 8-for-11 shooting and a perfect 8-for-8 effort from the charity stripe.  Redshirt senior guard Haley D'Angelo chipped in 11 points for the Gaels.

Senior center Sabrina Jeridore led the Iona defense, tallying an Iona single-game record 13 blocks. Sophomore forward Joy Adams had 15 points and pulled down a game high 15 rebounds.

Iona came out firing offensively, taking a 14 point lead, 24-10, on a three pointer by Martinez with 14:13 left in the first half. The Tigers would respond, picking at the Iona lead by going on a 34-20 run over the remainder of the half, tying the game on a free throw by Sam Pettinger with seven seconds left in the period.

Iona would score the first seven points of the second half and take a 51-44 lead on a jumper by redshirt freshman forward Christina Rubin with 16:05 remaining in the second half. Pacific would answer with a 9-1 run, taking a 53-52 lead on a layup by Madison Parrish.

The teams would trade leads until the Gaels would grab the advantage for good, 58-57, on a free throw by Powell. Iona would take a double digit lead, 77-67, on a free throw by Martinez and extend it to second half high, 83-70, with 24 seconds remaining.

Pacific was led by Kendall Kenyon, who posted a double-double on 24 points and 12 rebounds.

The Gaels are back in action Sunday, when they tip off at Navy at 2:00 pm.