HAMDEN, CT – The Gaels wrapped up a tough two-game road swing against Quinnipiac on Sunday afternoon. The MAAC-leading Bobcats remain undefeated in the conference by defeating the Maroon & Gold, 90-47.
Junior Alexis Lewis set a new career-high with 17 rebounds while also scoring a team-best 12 points on 6-of-18 shooting. Her 17 boards is the most by an Iona player since Joy Adams ('16) pulled down 20 at Rider in Alumni Gymnasium on Feb. 7, 2016. Freshman Toyosi Abiola ended with 11 points and two steals.
Quinnipiac began the game on a 10-0 run and forced an early timeout by the Maroon & Gold. The Bobcats hit seven of their first nine shots to lead 17-4 five minutes into the contest. The first quarter concluded with the Gaels trailing, 27-12.
Quinnipiac became the second MAAC team to score at least 20 in the first quarter against the Maroon & Gold this season. The Bobcats point total tied an Iona opponent season-high allowed in the first quarter. The previous team to net 27 in the opening frame was Toledo back on Nov. 27.
The Gaels began the second quarter with six straight points, but the Bobcats answered with sophomore Taylor Herd's third and fourth three-point field goals. Iona got to within nine, but a 12-2 run from Quinnipiac put the Maroon & Gold down by as many as 24.
Iona entered the locker room trailing 48-26 due in large part to its 12 first half turnovers which resulted in 22 Quinnipiac points. The Bobcats shot 54.3% from the floor and 50.0% from beyond the arc in the first half. Quinnipiac's 48 first half points is the highest total an opponent has scored in a single-half this season.
Lewis had a strong first half for Iona with eight points and 12 rebounds. Rookie Rebekah Justice opened well two blocks and six points in 18 minutes.
The Gaels opened the second half with Lewis securing her ninth double-double of the season and Justice hitting Iona's first three-pointer. After going without a field goal for over three minutes, Bobcat junior Paula Strautmane scored seven straight points as part of a 16-2 stretch over the final five minutes of the quarter.
Quinnipiac took advantage of Iona's foul trouble in the fourth by getting into the bonus with over five minutes to go. The Bobcats ended the game shooting 14-of-17 from the free throw line. They also expanded its success off Iona turnovers into the second half. They finished the game with 34 points of 25 Gael handovers.
Strautmane led all scorers with 19 points on 9-for-13 shooting. The Bobcats had four players in double-figures and junior Aryn McClure fished out a game-high eight assists and swiped up five steals.
With rookie Jayden Eggleston not playing, this was the first time the Gaels switched its starting line-up since their home game against Monmouth on Jan. 13.
Hometown Branford, CT native Adrienne DiGioia picked up two fouls in the opening 40 seconds. Hampered by foul trouble, she finished the game having played seven minutes.
Iona's next is its annual Kid's Day extravaganza on Thursday, Feb. 8 against Fairfield. Tip-off is scheduled for 11 AM and it can be viewed live on ESPN3 or WATCHESPN. It's game also acts as the opener in a doubleheader at the Hynes Center with the men's basketball team hosting Monmouth at 7 PM.
Fans can keep up with the latest news and excitement surrounding Iona women's basketball by following the team on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
