NEW ROCHELLE, NY - The Iona College women's basketball team fought the good fight from start to finish Saturday afternoon against No. 17/19 Rutgers University, but fell short 66-58 at the Hynes Athletics Center.
Despite early foul trouble that limited her to eight minutes in the first half, senior guard Damika Martinez scored a game-high 22 points. Martinez scored 17 of Iona's 31 second half points, as the Gaels stayed close until the final whistle.
Junior forward Joy Adams scored 10 points and grabbed a game-high 14 rebounds, while junior Aaliyah Robinson contributed 11 points. Seven of Iona's eight players scored, including all three off the bench.
The Scarlet Knights registered the game's first nine points, before a three by Martinez with 15:51 left broke the ice for the Maroon & Gold. A Martinez layup with 13:25 remaining trimmed the deficit to four, 11-7.
With Iona trailing 14-12, the Scarlet Knights answered with eight straight to grab their only double-digit lead of the game, 22-12, with 8:04 remaining in the period.
From there, Iona finished the half on a 15-6 run, as a three-pointer by freshman Philecia Gilmore with 14 seconds remaining sent the Gaels to intermission down by just one, 28-27.
Iona held Rutgers to its second lowest first half point total of the season in the contest, before the Scarlet Knights answered with 38 points in the second period.
In the second half, Iona was able to stay within striking distance but was unable to jump ahead of Rutgers. A three by junior Cassidee Ranger trimmed the deficit to two, 36-34, with 14:28 remaining, before the Scarlet Knights answered with four straight points.
The Maroon & Gold had a second chance to overtake Rutgers, when a layup by sophomore Marina Lizarazu with 6:52 remaining cut the margin to 51-49, and forced a timeout by the visitors. The Scarlet Knights quickly answered with a three by Syessence Davis right out of the huddle, and another trifecta by Cynthia Hernandez pushed the deficit back to eight.
Davis led Rutgers with 12 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists, while Kahleah Copper scored 19 points.
Iona completes its non-conference slate Dec. 29 at East Tennessee State (7:00 pm), before resuming league action Jan. 2 at home against Monmouth (7:00 pm).
