NEW ROCHELLE, NY - The Iona College women's basketball team lost on Monday afternoon to Siena, 56-51, at the Hynes Athletics Center.
Olivia Vezaldenos scored a team-high 14 points, knocking down a season-best four three-pointers in the loss.
Iona's two leading scorers on Monday afternoon kicked things off with back-to-back baskets. Vezaldenos' triple, followed by a basket by Juana Camilion gave Iona an early 5-0 lead. Siena used four makes from the free throw line and a DeAnna Winston jumper over a 90-second span to grab a 6-5 edge. The lead traded hands five more times during the period, the last of which was on a Camilion layup, giving the Gaels a 16-15 advantage after the first quarter.
The Maroon & Gold built a seven-point lead to open the second frame, the largest lead on either side to that point. Freshmen Marina Cenis and Judith Gomez each contributed; Gomez knocked down a pair of triples, surpassing her previous season-best point total (five) on back-to-back possessions during the run. After a minute-long scoreless drought between both sides, Siena ended a personal two-plus minute scoreless run with a layup from Anja Knoflach. The basket made it a 25-20 game. The Saints ripped off eight more points down the stretch, holding Iona without a bucket for the remainder of the half. Trailing 28-25, Cenis was fouled on a try from deep three-point range just before the buzzer, sending the rookie to the line with a chance to even the score before the break. She made two of three at the charity stripe, making it a one-point deficit for the Gaels at halftime.
Vezaldenos had herself a quarter offensively, starting things off with a trifecta to push her side back in front, 30-28. After Siena re-took the lead, Iona went on a 10-0 run to build its largest lead of the contest, 40-32. Vezaldenos converted on a pair of triples during the run. Siena battled back, making it a one-possession game on two separate occasions down the stretch, but a late layup by Ketsia Athias made it 44-40 in favor of the home team heading into the final quarter.
The Gaels opened the fourth quarter by scoring seven of the first nine points, taking a 51-42 lead with 7:15 to play. Siena took control of the contest from that point on, holding Iona without a point for the remainder of the game and using a 14-0 run to secure its first win of the season. The Gaels missed six shots in the final six-plus minutes, as well as two free throws.
NOTABLE NUGGETS
- Vezaldenos and Camilion combined to score 25 of Iona's 51 points on Monday. For Vezaldenos, it was a season-best mark in the scoring column and the fourth time in the last five contests that she has eclipsed double-figures. Camilion scored at least 10 points for the seventh time in nine games this year.
- Gomez set season-bests in points (six) and three-pointers made (two), as well as rebounds (four).
- Cenis matched a season-high with her seven points, setting new personal bests in free throws made (three), assists (three) and steals (two).
- The lead changed hands 11 times during the game and was tied on four occasions.
UP NEXT
Iona travels to face Manhattan on Thursday, January 13. Tip-off between the Gaels and Jaspers is set for 7:00 p.m. at Draddy Gymnasium on ESPN+.
SOCIAL MEDIA
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