NEW ROCHELLE, NY – The Iona College women's basketball team was defeated 66-43 at home by the Pennsylvania Quakers on Saturday afternoon. The reigning Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Rookie of the Week, Shyan Mwai, scored a new career-best 12 points in the contest. 

GAME SUMMARY

Both sides took a couple of minutes to get things going offensively, with the Quakers opening the scoring on a Russell layup. A bucket inside for redshirt sophomore Tori Lesko got the ball rolling for Iona offensively, but two quick scores from Penn made it 8-2 and forced head coach Billi Chambers to take a timeout. The Gaels were outscored 10-6 for the final six minutes of the quarter before a three-pointer from junior transfer Morgan Rachu at the buzzer cut the Quaker lead to 18-11.
 
Freshman Shyan Mwai knocked down a three to open the scoring in the second quarter, bringing the Maroon & Gold within four points. Iona found itself in a bit of foul trouble in the second quarter, allowing Penn to shoot 10 free throws in the period. Fortunately for the Gaels, the Quakers converted on just half of those chances. Penn led 39-27 heading into the locker rooms.
 
The third quarter was the lowest scoring for either side of the day, with the two teams combining for just 19 points. Princess Aghayere had seven of the Quakers' 10 points in the quarter and Iona scored the final five of the quarter, cutting the deficit to 13 heading into the fourth.
 
The Quakers scored four of the first five baskets to open the quarter, with two of them coming from the 2018 Ivy League Rookie of the Year, Eleah Parker, who finished with 18 points. Freshman Juana Camilion hit a difficult fall-away three with just over three minutes to play, but it would be the final bucket for the Maroon & Gold.

NOTABLE NUGGETS

• Mwai's 12 points scored were a new personal-best for the rookie. She knocked down two-of-five from beyond the arc.
• As a team, Iona shot 46.7% from three, a new season-best.
• The Gaels turned the ball over 18 times, and the Quakers converted it into 21 points.
• Parker finished with game-highs in points (18) and rebounds (12).
• Penn was just 10-18 from the charity stripe in the game, but Iona was 0-5 as a unit.
• The Quakers recorded 16 points, compared to just two for the Maroon & Gold, on second chance opportunities.  

UP NEXT

Iona's homestand continues as they welcome Stony Brook into the Hynes Center on Tuesday, Dec. 11. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. 

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