PHILADELPHIA, PA – The Iona College women's basketball lost to the University of Pennsylvania on Sunday afternoon, 74-42. Shyan Mwai and the Philadelphia native De'jah Williams scored in double figures for the Maroon & Gold, but it was not enough against the Quakers.

GAME SUMMARY

The Gaels jumped out to an early lead behind two baskets from sophomore Juana Camilion, but saw the advantage fizzle almost immediately. Camilion, an All-MAAC Preseason Third Team selection, buried a three and scored on a fastbreak to put Iona ahead in the first two minutes of play. The Quakers ripped off 11 straight points and held the Gaels without a point for more than five minutes. Penn took a 16-10 lead into the start of the second quarter.
 
The Maroon & Gold were slow to start the second frame, seeing their deficit grow to double-digits just over a minute and a half in. Mwai put in a triple at the 6:35 mark of the quarter, but Iona did not score again until there were 10 seconds left before halftime. Those two buckets were the only two of the period for the Maroon & Gold, as they trailed 37-15 entering halftime.
 
The Quakers defense shined again out of the break, holding the Gael offense without a point over the first three-plus minutes of the third quarter. Over that span, Penn expanded its lead to 48-15 on the strength of an 11-0 run to open the frame. 
 
Williams would catch fire for the Maroon & Gold, scoring 11 straight points; however, the Quakers had an answer for every basket, maintaining its sizable lead and reaching the 60-point plateau at the end of the period.
 
Staked to a 27-point lead with just the final frame to play, Penn would cruise to a victory and a 3-0 start to the season. Iona would fight until the final whistle, but it wasn't enough against the Ivy League preseason favorite.

STATISTICAL LEADERS

• Williams, who scored all 11 of her points in the third quarter, set a new career-best in a homecoming for the sophomore transfer.
• Mwai was the only other Gael in double-figures, scoring a team-leading 12 points on 4-12 shooting from the field.
• Morgan Rachu pulled down a team-high seven rebounds; Camilion and Lucia Becerra Perez had two steals each.
• Phoebe Sterba led all scorers on the afternoon, amassing 17 points.
• Kennedy Suttle finished with a double double, scoring 11 points and pulling down a game-high 11 rebounds. 
• Kendall Grasela concluded her afternoon with 10 assists, adding three steals as well.

NOTABLE NUGGETS

• Mwai has now scored in double-figures in all three of Iona's games this season. For Williams, it marks the first time in her career that she has registered double-digit points.
• Aiste Vaitekunaite played nine minutes, coverting on both of her free-throw attempts. Her first quarter basket was the first made field goal and points of her collegiate career.
• Gabrielle Joseph made her first start of the season for the Maroon & Gold, playing 13 minutes and missing on her only try from the floor.
• Nikki Worner saw the first game-action of her career, playing two minutes off of the bench. She missed her lone field goal attempt.
• The Gaels shot a season-worst 4-28 from beyond the arc; Penn connected on just 5-20 tries from three-point range.
• Iona finished with just 11 assists on the afternoon, compared to 24 giveaways.

AROUND THE MAAC

Iona will have a few days off after playing two games in three days; the Gaels are back in action on Thursday, November 21 when they travel to Long Island to face Stony Brook for a 6:30 p.m. tipoff. The game will be broadcasted on ESPN+.

UP NEXT

• Marist remained unbeaten, winning at home over Elon, 63-55.
• Saint Peter's lost a high-scoring affair on the road at Howard, 92-80.
• Dartmouth escaped with a win over Fairfield, 52-51; Andrea Hernangomez's potential game-winning three missed the mark.
• Canisius came back to defeat St. Bonaventure, 84-82.

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