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Iona University Athletics

WBB 12.19
Farrell Shine
40
Rider Rider 0-8,0-4 MAAC
56
Winner Iona Iona 2-4,2-2 MAAC
Rider Rider
0-8,0-4 MAAC
40
Final
56
Iona Iona
2-4,2-2 MAAC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Rider Rider 10 9 8 13 40
Iona Iona 14 12 15 15 56

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | | Jack Clark

Iona WBB Completes Sweep of Rider, Chambers Secures Career Win No. 100

Senior Olivia Vezaldenos scored 16 points, connecting on four trifectas, to lead all scorers.

NEW ROCHELLE, NY – The Iona College women's basketball team completed the weekend sweep of Rider on Saturday night, sinking the Broncs 56-40 at the Hynes Center. Senior Olivia Vezaldenos scored 16 points, connecting on four trifectas, to lead all scorers.

GAME SUMMARY

The opening period of play was a back-and-forth affair the entire time, with the lead changing hands seven times during the first 10 minutes of action. After falling behind 10-7 with just over three minutes left in the frame, Shyan Mwai connected on a three pointer to even the score. Thoranna Hodge-Carr split a pair of free throws to give Iona a one-point lead, which the Gaels expanded to four points by the end of the quarter.
 
Raphaela Toussaint opened the scoring in the second quarter, scoring inside and drawing a foul. She completed the three-point play to make it a 14-13 game. Lucia Becerra Perez scored a few possessions later, but Toussaint followed suit to keep it a one-possession game with six minutes to play in the half. Trifectas from Juana Camilion and Vezaldenos allowed Iona to build a five-point advantage late in the half. De'jah Williams scored on the final possession of the half to give the Gaels a 26-19 lead heading into the break.
 
Iona clamped down defensively to start the second half, holding Rider without a point for over four minutes to begin the third quarter. Baskets from Anouschka Meijer and Becerra Perez helped the Maroon & Gold open up a double-digit lead. Vezaldenos proceeded to take over offensively for Iona, scoring the Gaels' final 11 points of the period. Her fourth and final bucket of the third quarter made it a 41-24 game with under a minute to play in the frame.
 
Just as they did to start the prior quarter, Iona held the Broncs without a point for the opening four minutes of the final period. The Gaels lead grew to 18 points during their opponent's scoring drought, the largest lead of the evening. The Maroon & Gold held Rider at bay for the remainder of the game, cruising to a 56-40 victory.

STATISTICAL LEADERS

  • Vezaldenos led all scorers for the second straight night, scoring 16 points and knocking down four three-pointers.
  • Toussaint finished with a double-double, scoring 11 points and corralling a game-high 12 boards. Meijer pulled down 6 rebounds, the most of any Gael.
  • Weekes finished with a team-leading three assists for Iona.
  • Camilion registered eight steals for the second consecutive night.
  • Sydney Avoletta, Camilion and Meijer all recorded a blocked shot. No player had more than one swatted shot.

NOTABLE NUGGETS

  • Iona's win was number 100 of Billi Chambers' career as head coach of the Maroon & Gold.
  • Camilion's eight steals match a career-best and serve as the second-most in a single game in program history.
  • Vezaldenos finished the weekend with 32 points on eight three-pointers, scoring 16 in each of Iona's two wins.
  • The Gaels completed the sweep of the Broncs, the first time they have swept a two-game season series since the 2015-16 season. Rider had won the previous nine matchups between the two programs entering this weekend. 
  • Iona's defense forced Rider into 20+ turnovers for the second straight night. The Gaels turned 24 Rider giveaways into 25 points.
  • 33 of the Gaels' 56 points came via its bench. Vezaldenos and Mwai combined to score 23 of Iona's bench points. Rider had just six points from its non-starters.
  • The Maroon & Gold defense limited the Broncs to a sub-30 percent field goal percentage. Rider also did not distribute the ball well offensively, assisting on just four of its 15 baskets.

AROUND THE MAAC

  • Quinnipiac took down Manhattan 60-51, avoiding the sweep and avenging last night's overtime loss.

UP NEXT

Iona completes non-conference play when it hosts Sacred Heart on Tuesday, December 22. Tip-off is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. at the Hynes Center, and the game will be streamed on ESPN+.

SOCIAL MEDIA

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