Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

Events

View Schedule  
  Go Back

Iona University Athletics

WBB
Stockton Photo Inc.
46
Iona Iona 5-26
54
Winner Rider Rider 19-11
Iona Iona
5-26
46
Final
54
Rider Rider
19-11
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Iona Iona 15 16 4 11 46
Rider Rider 10 6 20 18 54

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | | Jack Clark

Rider Completes Comeback to Eliminate Iona

Iona’s 2018-19 campaign comes to a close, finishing 5-26 overall and 3-15 in conference play.

ALBANY, NY – It was a tale of two halves between the Iona College women's basketball team and Rider. The No. 2 seeded Broncs upended the Gaels after a huge second half, eliminating Iona from postseason play.

GAME SUMMARY

The Gaels controlled the pace of play for the entire first half, dominating the Broncs in practically ever facet of the game. Freshman Shyan Mwai buried three shots from beyond the arc. Good passing from Camilion and Lesko opened up opportunities inside for both players, and Iona took a 15-10 lead into the second quarter.
 
Mwai stayed hot in the second period, scoring the first five points for either side. After connecting on her first four tries from deep, her heat-check from the top of the key just barely missed. The Maroon & Gold did not let up though; they held the Broncs scoreless for the first three minutes of the period. A Camilion three-pointer made it a 23-10 advantage for Iona, but they endured a five-minute scoring drought that allowed Rider to close the gap a little. Lesko scored to end the drought, and then Rachu converted on two straight attempts from long range in the final two minutes. The Gaels led the Broncs at the break, 31-16. 
 
The Rider Broncs did not keel over; they retook control of the game in the third period, tying things at 34 with two minutes left in the third. The 2019 MAAC Player of the Year, Stella Johnson, scored nine points in the third. The Gaels scored just four as an offensive unit, allowing Rider to take a one-point lead into the fourth quarter.
 
Rider never faltered in the fourth, locking down defensively once again. Rachu's three-pointer with 8:18 left knotted things up at 38 apiece, but the Gaels went scoreless over three minutes and Rider gained a five-point lead. The Gaels made it a single-possession game once again, but Lexi Possett scored five straight to give Rider a cushion. From that point on, the Broncs would not give up any ground, they maintained a solid lead and continued to lock in defensively to escape the Quarterfinals with a win.

NOTABLE NUGGETS

  • Iona led 31-16 at the halftime break. They shot 12-26 (46%) from the field and 7-12 (58%) from three. Rider was 8-29 (0-8 3FG).
  • Mwai nearly eclipsed her career-high in the first half, scoring 14 points on 5-7 FG (4-5 3FG). She nailed her first four attempts from downtown.
  • Lesko led the team with 10 rebounds and Camilion had a team-high seven assists (a new career-best for the MAAC All-Rookie selection).
  • Rider outscored Iona 38-15 in the second half; they knocked down 9-14 FG in the third quarter, outgaining the Maroon & Gold 20-4.
  • Iona led for over 25 minutes; their largest lead was 16 points early in the third frame.
  • Iona shot just two free throws over the course of the entire game. Lesko connected on 1-2 tries from the stripe.
  • Iona's 2018-19 campaign comes to a close, finishing 5-26 overall and 3-15 in conference play. 

SOCIAL MEDIA

 ICGaels: Twitter, Facebook and Instagram (Email Updates)
Iona Women's Basketball: Twitter, Facebook and Instagram (Email Updates)


Print Friendly Version