NEW ROCHELLE, NY – The Iona College women's basketball team came up short to wrap up its three-game home stand despite a strong fourth quarter and a career-best 22 points from freshman
Juana Camilion. The Gaels outscored Rider 24-17 in the final frame but lost, 66-58.
GAME SUMMARY
Camilion and the Gaels got off to a fantastic start in the first quarter, building up a 9-5 lead in the first six minutes behind seven early points from the Spain native. A Stella Johnson three put Rider back on top, 13-11, with 2:32 to go in the first. Camilion added two more before the quarter closed, heading into the second quarter with a game-high nine points and a 16-16 tie.
The second frame was much of the same; Camilion lit it up from three early, knocking down two tries and extending Iona's lead to six. Stella Johnson though, not to be outdone, buried a three of her own to answer. Up five halfway through the second quarter, Iona could not slow down Johnson offensively. She scored the final seven points of the half, and was responsible for all 12 of the Broncs' points. Rider held a slight 28-27 advantage entering halftime.
Rider seemingly took control and put the game on ice with a marvelous third quarter, outscoring Iona 21-7. They scored the first six out of the intermission, but junior transfer
Morgan Rachu laced a three to stop the run. Iona's buckets were just that though, run stoppers, as the Broncs used runs of 5-0, 3-0 and 7-0 in a huge third period.
The Maroon & Gold would not go down without a fight however, and they flipped the script on Rider in the fourth quarter. It was Iona who went on extensive scoring runs and held the opposition scoreless. The quarter was highlighted by 11 unanswered points for Gael scorers, part of an eventual 16-2 run. Iona was as close as three points, trailing 57-54 with just over three minutes to play. They never got as close again, allowing sevens straight points to Rider in the waning moments.
NOTABLE NUGGETS
- Juana Camilion's 22 points were a new career-best for the freshman from Spain. It is a season-high for any Gael scorer and just the third time this season a Gael has scored at least 20.
- The Gaels outrebounded the Broncs, 35-25, and outscored them inside the painted area, 22-20.
- Morgan Rachu was back in double-figures for the Maroon & Gold, scoring 13 points. It is the 10th time this season she has scored double-digits and the fifth time she has played a full 40 minutes.
- Iona's 24 points in the fourth quarter is a season-best mark for the unit.
- Coming off of her first career double-double, Tori Lesko laid down 14 points, shooting 6-8 from the charity stripe.
- Stella Johnson scored a game-high 29 points. She entered play averaging 25.0 PPG in MAAC play.
- Rider improves to 4-0 in conference play and has beaten Iona five straight times now. Iona still leads the series though, 27-20.
UP NEXT
Iona will hit the road for two short trips; they will visit Manhattan this Friday for a 7:00 p.m. tip on ESPN3 before heading up to Poughkeepsie for a road tilt with Marist on Sunday, tipping off at 2:00 p.m. on ESPN+.
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