NEW ROCHELLE, NY – The friendly confines of the Hynes Athletics Center proved fruitful for the Iona College women's basketball team on Sunday afternoon as the Gaels took down the Mean Green of North Texas by a final score of 62-51.
Freshman Alexis Lewis lit it up for the Maroon in Gold, pouring in a career-high 22 points of 9 of 11 shooting. Sophomore Philecia Gilmore, in her first start of the season, also chipped in a career-high 17 points.
Senior forward Joy Adams tore down 19 rebounds and netted 10 for her 65th career double-double, and sophomore Ashley Murray nabbed a new personal-best eight rebounds coming off the pine.
The Maroon & Gold got off to a hot start just off the get-go. Gilmore hit three quick triples within the opening minutes to get the Gaels out in front early. Iona used a fast-hitting nine-to-nothing run, carried by seven straight points from Lewis, to secure an 11 point lead at the end of the first period.
North Texas struggled in the opening portion of the game, hitting on only four of their first twenty shots. The Gaels defense continued past the opening frame, holding the Mean Green to only one field goal in the second quarter. North Texas did not score in the final eight minutes of the first half, allowing the Gaels to use a 12-0 run and open up a 36-14 edge heading into the locker room.
Lewis had 14 first half points on six of seven shooting; she had a plus-minus rating of 27 during her 12 minutes of play.
Much to the delight of the Iona bench, the Gaels drew three offensive charge calls in the first half.
The Mean Green were able to break their scoreless drought at the start of the second half with a three-pointer from junior Kelsey Criner. North Texas would go on to dominate the third quarter, eventually cutting the once 22-point deficit to only six by the end of the period. The Gaels didn't score for the final 4:29, committing many careless turnovers. In the third quarter alone, the Maroon & Gold turned the ball over eight times, leading to nine Mean Green points.
Lewis got the Gaels back on track in the fourth quarter, hitting an uncontested three-pointer from the top of the key to end the untimely scoring deficiency. The Gaels followed up her big triple with a stout defensive stand, and from there Iona would successfully direct themselves to victory.
The nail in the coffin for North Texas came at 4:03 when junior Marina Lizarazu made a tough left-handed layup to put Iona up 10.
Criner led North Texas with 19 points on 7 of 16 shooting. Senior Teadra Jones dropped in 13, and sophomore Bria Frierson contributed nine tallies for Mean Green.
The Gaels next contest will be down in Philadelphia against Saint Joseph's. Tipoff between the Gaels and Owls is set for Thursday, Dec. 17 at 11:30 AM.
