LOUDONVILLE, NY - The Iona College women's basketball team moved to 12-0 in league play and extended their winning streak to an Iona basketball record 18 games with an 80-66 victory over Siena Saturday afternoon at the Alumni Recreation Center. The win pushes the squad one game ahead of the 17 game winning streak by the 1979-80 men's team.
Junior guard Damika Martinez, sophomore forward Joy Adams and sophomore guard Aaliyah Robinson combined for 72 of Iona's 80 points. Martinez scored 33 points, her largest output of the conference slate. Martinez connected on 10 of 18 shot attempts, including a career high seven from behind the arc.
Adams scored 21 points, including 16 in the second half, while pulling down 13 rebounds to extend her double-double streak to 13 games. Robinson scored a career high 18 points in 29 minutes of action.
The Gaels found themselves in an early hole, as Siena took a quick 4-0 lead in the first half. Iona would score eight of the next ten points to grab an 8-6 lead on a Martinez three pointer with 16:28 remaining.
The Saints answered with four straight, to grab a 10-8 cushion, before Iona countered with a 9-0 run on a trio of Martinez trifectas. Martinez put the Gaels ahead, 17-10 with 11:48 left in the period before the Saints trimmed the lead back to three with four straight points.
With the Gaels ahead 20-17 with 9:04 remaining, Iona scored seven straight as Adams knocked
down a three, Martinez connected on two from the line and Robinson dropped in a layup to put Iona ahead 27-17.
Siena countered with an 8-0 run, cutting the deficit to two, 27-25, on a three pointer by Brianna Logan with 3:10 left. Iona scored five in a row to push the advantage back to seven, 32-25, before four straight by Siena late in the period, cut the lead to three, 32-29 at the half.
Siena opened the half on a 6-3 run, knotting the game at 35 on a jumper by Ciara Stewart. From there, the Gaels scored five straight, taking the lead for good. With Iona ahead 40-37, the Maroon & Gold went on a 10-0 run, grabbing a 49-37 advantage on a jumper by Robinson.
Iona then extended its lead to 14, 58-44, on a free throw by Adams with 9:58 left. The Saints continued to fight despite the deficit, going on a 13-4 charge, trimming the lead to five, 62-57, on a pair of free throws by Ida Krogh.
The Maroon & Gold put the game away for good by countering the charge with a 18-7 run. A layup by junior guard Aleesha Powell put the Gaels ahead 73-61 with 2:34 remaining. Iona then connected on seven of eight free throw attempts in the final 2:30 to seal the victory.
The Gaels were able to withstand a 48-33 advantage on the board by the Saints and turned 19 Siena turnovers into 24 points. The Saints had three players in double figures, led by Meghan Donohue's 16 points and nine rebounds. Tehresa Coles had 15 points while Kanika Cummings had 10 points.
The Gaels are back in action Thursday evening when they visit Rider for a 6:00 pm tip. The game will be broadcast on ESPN3.
