NEW ROCHELLE, NY - Iona College women's basketball junior guard Damika Martinez scored a single game record 46 points in the Gaels' (22-3, 15-1 MAAC) 73-66 victory over Rider (12-13, 8-8 MAAC) Sunday afternoon at the Hynes Center. Martinez previously set the mark with 42 points earlier this season against Columbia.
The 46 points tied the MAAC single game mark held by Canisius' Heather Fiore, who posted 46 against Saint Peter's in 1997. The point total also set a new Hynes Center scoring record, previously held by Lamont Jones, who scored 42 points for the men's squad in a 2012 contest.
Martinez connected on 16 of her 20 field goal attempts, including a perfect 6-for-6 effort from behind the arc. Her 84 three point field goals this season are a new single season mark, eclipsing the 79 she connected on a year ago.
With 1705 career points, Martinez also moved into second place all-time in scoring passing Patty Reynolds '90, who tallied 1683 career points. She now sits 189 points away from tying Maggie Timoney '89 for first all-time.
Sophomore forward Joy Adams scored 17 points and grabbed 13 rebounds to extend her double-double streak to 17 games and pushed her season total to a nation leading 23. Held out of the scoring column, junior guard Aleesha Powell contributed a team best five assists in the win.
With the game knotted for the third time in the early going, 17-17, Rider went on a quick 4-0 run to take a 21-17 lead. Iona answered with a 9-4 run, as a Martinez jumper with 4:16 remaining gave the Gaels a 28-25 lead. The Maroon & Gold did not trail for the duration of the contest.
Leading 30-29, Iona scored the final basket of the opening half on a Martinez three-pointer. The Gaels then opened the second half with an 11-0 run, grabbing a 44-29 lead with 15:49 left in the game on a fast break layup by Adams.
With the Gaels ahead 54-40, Rider trimmed its deficit to four with a 14-4 run as the Broncs trailed 58-54 with 5:33 left in the game. Rider's MyNesha McKenzie led the charge with 10 points.
Iona answered with a 13-4 run that put the game away. Martinez scored 11 points during the run that put the Maroon & Gold ahead 71-58 with 2:58 remaining.
McKenzie led Rider with 21 points to go along with six rebounds and four assists. Lashay Banks had 16 points off the bench for the Broncs while Kornelija Valiuskyte dished out a game high seven assists.
The Gaels are back in action Thursday evening at 7:00 pm when they host Niagara at the Hynes Center.
