JERSEY CITY, NJ – With a combination of balancing scoring and clutch shooting, the Iona College women's basketball program got back on the winning track with a 66-58 win at Saint Peter's Thursday evening. Junior Philecia Atkins-Gilmore scored a game-high 18 points and sophomore Alexis Lewis netted 17 points with a game-high 10 rebounds for her second straight double-double.
With senior Marina Lizarazu not playing, Iona diverted from its staple starting five for the first time this season. Freshman Amelia Motz and junior Kristin Mahoney each started their first of the season. Senior Karynda DuPree came off the bench in the first minute of the game.
The Maroon & Gold stepped it up on the offensive side in the first quarter, shooting 64.3% and scoring 25 points. It's the most points scored in a quarter by Iona thus far this season. Lewis had nine early points on 4-of-4 shooting to catalyze the early charge. The Gaels held a 25-17 advantage after one quarter.
Iona's offense cooled as the second period progressed while Saint Peter's freshman Zoe Pero caught fire. The reigning MAAC Rookie of the Week scored quick back-to-back buckets with under two minutes to go. The Peacocks used an 11-to-4 run at the end of the first half to bring the Iona lead to six points, 39-33.
Sophomore Treyanna Clay and Lewis had 13 and 10 points respectively in the first half. The Gaels 39 first half points was the most in a first half thus far this season. Its 53.6% shooting was a season-high for any two quarter stretch this season.
Saint Peter's and Iona combined to shoot 30.4% in the third quarter, each scoring nine points. Come the fourth, the Maroon & Gold had to withstand a quick attack from the Peacocks. Pero made a jumper with 8:17 to go that brought Saint Peter's within one. Atkins-Gilmore hit her third triple of the game 20 seconds later that gave the Gaels back a four-point lead, 53-49.
Momentum swung again when freshman Ashlie Powell made a layup on the Peacocks' next possession to get within two. Clay quelled the crowd with a trip to the free throw line at 6:50, leading to a 6-0 Iona run that pushed the spread back to eight. The last step in the Gael victory came with three minutes to go when Atkins-Gilmore hit her fourth and final three.
Iona shot a season-best 47.8% from the floor and 46.7% from beyond the arc. The Gaels had a 22-to-4 free throw attempt advantage, converting on 15 of their opportunities. Clay was a perfect 8-8 from the charity stripe in route to scoring a career-high 16 points in 30 minutes. She shot 3-for-6 and pulled down seven rebounds.
DuPree came off the bench and scored 12 points on 6-of-12 shooting. She dished out a career-high four assists and boarded six rebounds. In her second career start, Mahoney played 17 minutes and dished out three assists.
Freshman Ashley Martin saw her first minutes of the season and collected two points.
Iona returns to action on Tuesday, Jan. 10 at 11 AM against Siena. It begins a three-game home stretch in which they'll play three games in six days, welcoming both Niagara and Marist to the Hynes Center.
