NEW ROCHELLE, NY – The Gaels made a splash to open up 2016, evaporating the Jaspers at the Hynes Athletics Center, 67-56. Senior Joy Adams scored a game-high 21 points and pulled down ten rebounds to lead the Gaels to a perfect, 3-0 early season MAAC record.
Sophomore Philecia Gilmore was an emotional catalyst for the Maroon & Gold. The guard scored nine points, grabbed six rebounds, tying a career-high, and dished out a personal-best and game-high five assists.
Freshman Alexis Lewis came off the bench to knock-home 15 points on four-of-ten shooting. Senior Aaliyah Robinson scored 10 first half points to help Iona establish a large-enough cushion for the league victory.
The rebounding battle paying off huge dividends for the Maroon & Gold, specifically in the second half. The Gaels out-boarded the Jaspers 40 to 27, and used 16 offense rebounds to score ten key second-chance points, eight of which came in the second half.
At the 2:59 point in the third quarter, Manhattan found themselves down 19 points, 50-31. They used an 8-0 run to get back within 11, and from that point on it was a see-saw battle; the Jaspers trying to gather enough momentum to get over the hump, and the Gaels quelling the storm and maintaining their ground.
The turning point in the game came when Iona's lead was cut down to single digits with 4:49 to go. At that point, Lewis, via an assist for junior Marina Lizarazu, knocked down a clutch long-range jumper to get the Gaels back up by 12, 59-47.
Iona had phenomenal ball movement throughout the game, recording 17 assists on their 26 field goals; at the conclusion of the opening 20 minutes, the Maroon & Gold had assisted on 13 of their 16 made baskets.
Gilmore drew three charges on Manhattan, a personal-high for a Gael in a single-game this season.
Manhattan's leading scorers were Amani Tate and Shayna Ericksen, each with nine points. Twelve players took to the floor for the Jaspers, none scoring double-figures.
With the win, Head Coach Billi Godsey's team has reached the .500 mark with an overall 7-7 record heading into Monday night's contest against Saint Peter's in Jersey City, NJ.
