RICHMOND, VA – Behind sophomore Alexis Lewis's 20 points and sophomore Treyanna Clay's career-high 10 rebounds, the Iona College women's basketball team earned a frantic 59-57 win over VCU Wednesday afternoon. The victory ends a three-game losing streak, and propels the Gaels into the MAAC season-opener on Friday with winning momentum.
Both VCU and Iona struggled offensively to begin the game, combining to miss 15 of their first 17 shots from the floor. After Lewis hit her first of four triples at the 8:37 mark of the first, both teams went scoreless till the 4:52 point when Clay netted her first of three baskets. With the score knotted at eight, freshman Amelia Motz came off the bench to provide an offensive spark. The rookie Canton, OH native scored six straight points, including her first career three-pointer. Iona maintained a 12-11 lead at the end of the first.
The Maroon & Gold had below 20 turnovers for the first time in two games, but nine miscues came in the second quarter. Despite the Gaels shooting 60% in the period, the Rams hit on 6-of-14 to take a 26-24 lead into the halftime break. The offensive fluidity came to a halt for the Gaels, assisting on just one of their six field goals in the quarter; Iona had assisted on all four of its made field goals in the first quarter.
Iona started the third quarter with an exuberant 13-5 run, opening up a 37-33 lead midway through the frame. The Gael force was propelled by back-to-back threes from Clay and Lewis. Holding VCU to just 23% shooting and forcing five turnovers, the Maroon & Gold dominated the third frame 19-9 and entered the fourth with a 43-35 lead. The Gaels shot 41.2%, and used six second-chance points when adding to its new cushion.
The fourth quarter was the highest scoring of the game. Both teams combined to score 38 points with VCU climbing back up to the mean, shooting 61.5% over the final 10 minutes. The Rams chipped away and got to within one, 46-45, with 6:05 remaining. With VCU coming on strong, Lewis sunk a huge three-pointer with five minutes left to bring Iona's lead back to four.
With 37 seconds left, Rams senior Keira Robinson made a pair of free throws to bring the game back to within two. Following an empty Iona possession, VCU called a timeout with 10 seconds left. In the game's final possession, senior Marina Lizarazu locked down on Robinson, forcing a contested jumper that bounced off the side rim. Clay pulled down the rebound as the buzzer sounded, signifying the end of the Maroon & Gold's three-game losing streak.
After playing only 11 minutes in the first half due to foul trouble, Lewis finished the game with 20 points, six rebounds, and four three-point field goals. She scored 18 of her 20 points in the second half. It was her third straight 20+ scoring outing of the season, and the fifth of her career. It is the fifth time this season she has led the Maroon & Gold in scoring.
Clay had the best game of her sophomore campaign, tying a season-high with eight points and pulling down a career-high 10 rebounds. It's the second time the Tuscon, AZ native has had a good game against the Rams. Last year she scored a career-high 15 points at the Hynes Center.
Lizarazu finished with 10 points, five rebounds, and four assists. Freshman Tori Lesko had seven points, five rebounds, and four assists in 31 minutes. Senior Karynda DuPree had six points, seven rebounds, two assists, and one block.
VCU was led by a career-high 17 points from RS-senior GG Goodhope. Its leading scoring Robinson scored just nine points on 3-for-12 shooting.
Iona had a +16 rebounding margin, gathering 16 offensive rebounds for 19 second chance points. The Rams pulled down 27 rebounds, a game-low for an Iona opponent this season. The Maroon & Gold held VCU to just 38% shooting, allowing just six assists on 21 FG made.
There were nine lead changes in the game.
On Friday, Dec. 2, Iona welcomes MAAC rival Manhattan to the Hynes Center at 7 PM for the start of the conference season.
