NEW ROCHELLE, NY - Iona College women's basketball junior guard Aleesha Powell's layup with 3.5 seconds vaulted the Gaels (21-3, 14-1 MAAC) to a 60-59 victory over Monmouth (6-20, 5-10 MAAC) Friday evening at the Hynes Athletics Center. Iona was able to withstand a 33.9% shooting effort from the field and 15 turnovers to claim their 14th win in conference play, a new program single season best.
Powell finished with 16 points and a career high 10 rebounds for her first career double-double. Junior guard Damika Martinez poured in a game high 21 points for the Maroon & Gold, including 16 in the first half. Martinez also contributed five rebounds and a team high three steals in the win. Sophomore forward Joy Adams scored 11 points and grabbed 14 boards in a game in which the Gaels outrebounded the Hawks 47-33.
In a contest that involved five ties and seven lead changes, the Hawks had the early momentum as a three pointer by Jasmine Walker gave the visitors a five point lead, 9-4, with 17:05 remaining in the first.
Martinez scored five straight to even the contest at nine before an Adams jumper gave Iona its first lead, 11-10, with 14:01 left on the clock.
With the scored tied at 17, Iona built up a five point lead, 24-19, before taking its first double digit lead, 37-26, on a pair of Powell free throws with 1:04 left in the period. Monmouth's Mia Hopkins put in a layup with 51 seconds to trim the Iona lead back to nine before a layup by Adams with four seconds remaining put the Gaels ahead 39-28 at the break.
Coming out of the gate strong in the second half, the Gaels extended their lead to a game high 15, 52-37, on a three pointer by Powell with 14:23 left in the contest. The Maroon & Gold were then held to just eight points for the remainder of the game, as the Hawks countered with a 19-4 run, evening the contest at 56 on a three pointer by Walker.
Monmouth would take a one point lead with 1:49 left on a free throw by Kasey Chambers. A pair of Adams free throws gave the Gaels a one point lead with 30 seconds remaining. Monmouth answered with a two from the charity stripe by Danica Dragicevic to grab a 59-58 lead with 10 seconds on the clock.
Taking the inbounds pass, Powell went the distance, driving in from the right side of the lane to put in the winning basket. Monmouth's ensuing inbound pass went out of bounds with 0.9 seconds left on the clock before the Hawks' last inbound attempt was stolen by Martinez as the clock ran out.
Monmouth was led by Chevannah Paalvast's 20 points and four assists. Iona looks to keep its lead in the MAAC standings Sunday when it hosts Rider at 2:00 pm at the Hynes Center.
