NEW ROCHELLE, NY – Late Friday morning, the Iona College women's basketball improved their Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Record to 11-2 with a 68-56 come-from-behind win over the Monmouth Hawks. The Gaels overcame a poor 32% shooting performance and a 10-point deficit midway through the third in order to maintain their perfect home conference record.
The Maroon & Gold entered the game off an overtime win over Canisius in which no bench player scored; freshman Alexis Lewis made sure that was not the case this time around. The one-time MAAC Rookie of the Week scored a team-high 18 points on six-of-13 shooting, including three key triples. The most momentous of the long-range buckets was dropped in right at the conclusion of the third quarter to knot up the game at 45.
Senior Joy Adams came just shy of her first career triple-double; she ended the game with 13 points, 24 rebounds, and a career-high eight assists. Before tip-off, Head Coach Billi Godsey and Director of Athletics Richard Cole honored the two-time First-Team All-MAAC selection with two honorary basketballs to commemorate her becoming the conference, and #ICWBB's All-Time Leading Rebounder.
Monmouth entered the halftime break with a 32-29 lead due in large part to their impressive opening-half defense. The Hawks held the Gaels to 26.3% shooting in the first two periods while shooting 38.2% from the floor themselves. The Iona bench only scored four total points in the opening 20 minutes.
Lewis entered the fray immediately in the second half, and she provided the much needed spark the Gaels needs. The freshman scored 12 points in the period, hitting three three-point field goals along with three free throws to help Iona close the deficit by quarter end.
Much like the effort down in West Long Branch, NJ, Iona managed to hold the top offensive rebounding team in check; the Gaels outrebounded Monmouth 51-35 overall, and 25 to 9 on the offensive end.
Senior Jamiyah Bethune had 16 points to lead Monmouth. Junior Tyese Purvis chipped in 10 points off the bench. Sarah Olson pulled down a team-high eight rebounds from her point guard position.
Freshman Treyanna Clay played a season-high 34 minutes, pulling down eight rebounds and netting four points. Junior Marina Lizarazu dished out five assists while committing zero turnovers while orchestrating the Gaels attack.
The Maroon & Gold will be right back in action Sunday afternoon with a tip-off against the Rider Broncs.
