RIVERDALE, NY - Following its first loss since November, the Iona College women's basketball responded with a 71-67 victory over Manhattan Saturday afternoon at Draddy Gymnasium. The victory moved the Gaels' record to 20-3, reaching the 20 win plateau for the second straight season, and the fifth time in program history.
The win was also the 13th in conference play, matching the total of a season ago. Additionally, Iona head coach Billi Godsey became just the fourth coach in MAAC history to win 20 games in their first season.
Junior guard Damika Martinez led the Gaels with a game high 27 points, connecting on 10 field goals, including five from behind the arc. Overall the Gaels connected on 13 attempts from behind the arc, marking the tenth time this season they have knocked down 10 or more trifectas.
Junior guard Aleesha Powell continued her standout play this weekend with 14 points and a career high nine assists. Powell also had a team best four steals in the game.
Sophomore forward Joy Adams extended her consecutive double double streak to 15 games with 12 points and 13 rebounds. Adams matched Powell's game high four steals as well. Sophomore guard Aaliyah Robinson contributed 15 points, five rebounds and three steals to lead the Iona bench.
The Maroon & Gold and Jaspers traded leads early in the contest. With Manhattan up 27-26 with 9:25 left in the first period, Iona responded with a 9-0 run that gave them the lead for good, punctuated by Martinez's three pointer with 7:25 on the clock. With the Gaels ahead 39-33 with 3:23 left, the two teams combined for just one more point the rest of the half, an Adams free throw that gave Iona a seven point lead at intermission.
In the second half, Iona grabbed its first double figure lead, 53-42, on a Powell three pointer with 12:19 remaining. The Jaspers continued to battle, and closed the gap to three, 59-56, on a pair of Shayna Ericksen free throws with 5:30 on the clock. Manhattan then got within two, 68-66, on an Ericksen layup with 32 seconds remaining before the Gaels sealed the contest with three points from the charity stripe in the 28 seconds.
Monica Roeder led three Jaspers in double figures with 18 points. Ericken had 16 points and seven rebounds while Allison Skrec had 17 points and five assists. The Gaels played their next four games at home, beginning Feb. 14 at 4:30 pm against Monmouth.
