RIVERDALE, NY – Manhattan defeated the Iona College women's basketball program on Thursday evening, 67-63. The Gaels trailed by as many as 18 but managed to get it within two with a thunderous 18-2 run in the fourth quarter. An untimely offensive foul against the Maroon & Gold with two minutes remaining stilled the Gael tide and led to Manhattan stemming the swell at the charity stripe.
Freshman Jayden Eggleston led Iona with a career-high 17 points on 8-for-11 shooting. She pulled down five rebounds, dished out a team-high four assists, and made her first collegiate three-point field goal.
Manhattan shot 58.3% in the first quarter and led 19-16 due in large part to hitting four of its first five three-point field goal attempts. The Gaels initial offense was anchored by junior Alexis Lewis who tallied 10 points in opening frame.
The Gaels began the second quarter behind the eight-ball with the Jaspers vaulting out in front 23-16. Head Coach Billi Chambers called timeout and immediately Eggleston ended the stretch with two of her eight first half points.
Iona trailed by as many as ten in the opening half but cut it down to five at the break with a timely triple from rookie Toyosi Abiola and a late basket by junior Treyanna Clay. With their first half 48.1% shooting percentage, the Jaspers led the Gaels 33-28 at the break.
Clay picked up her third foul less than a minute in the third quarter and was forced to take an extended seat on the bench. Abiola netted Iona's first basket of the second half 3:27 into the third quarter. The Maroon & Gold's defense held Manhattan to just 4-for-13 shooting in the frame, but their offense was undone by six turnovers.
Entering the fourth quarter trailing by 10, Manhattan seniors Kayla Grimme and Taylor Williams pushed the deficit to 17 with a 9-2 run. Williams hit her second three-pointer with the clock reading 6:02 remaining to give the Jaspers it's largest lead of the game at 18.
Iona's catapulting stretch in the fourth quarter began with rookies Rebekah Justice and Eggleston making a pair of close range jumpers. Clay then netted eight straight points and brought her team within six with 2:26 left. Lewis hit her final three-pointer with 19 seconds later to make the score 59-56. Sophomore Gabby Cajou ended a four-minute scoreless stretch for Manhattan at the 2:07 mark.
With the tally reading 61-56, neither team scored till Eggleston knocked down her triple to bring the Gaels within two. Needing to ice the game at the free throw line, senior Amani Tatum, Williams, and Grimme each went perfect from the charity stripe in the final 20 seconds to secure the decision in Manhattan's favor.
With her four trifectas and team-high 19 points, Lewis moved up the Iona record books. She now ranks sixth all-time in career three-point field goals with 157, surpassing Kristina Ford ('12), and her 1041 career points places her 25th all-time.
Iona's next game is on Saturday, Jan. 20 against Siena. The Gaels host the Saints looking to avenge an earlier season 64-51 loss in Loudonville, NY. The game is being broadcasted lived on ESPN and WATCHESPN.
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