FAIRFIELD, CT - The Iona University women's basketball team lost to Fairfield, 49-43, on Monday evening at Leo D. Mahoney Arena.
Juana Camilion paced Iona offensively with 12 points in the loss, while
Ketsia Athias posted a near double-double with eight points and 11 rebounds.
THE RUNDOWN
The two sides played an evenly contested first quarter. A pair of first-quarter threes by Natalia Otkhmezuri, including one with eight seconds remaining, helped Iona grab a late lead. Janelle Brown went to the line with one second left and after missing the second try, she grabbed the rebound and beat the buzzer to get her side within one, 12-11, at the end of the opening frame.
After making 5-of-6 shots to begin the game, Iona went cold. The Gaels missed six straight shots to start the second quarter and wound up scoring just 10 points over the next 15 minutes of game action. During that stretch, Fairfield turned a one-point deficit into a 13-point advantage. The Maroon & Gold responded however, making six of their final seven shots to end the third period and pull within single digits heading into the fourth quarter.
The two sides would proceed to shoot a combined 6-of-22 and score just 14 points over the final 10 minutes. Iona closed the gap to five points in the final minute, but could not overcome the deficit and suffered its first loss in league play of the season.
STATISTICAL LEADERS
- Camilion, Brown and Callie Cavanaugh all scored a game-high 12 points. Camilion's six made field goals were the most and Brown's four made free throws and seven attempts were both game highs.
- Athias grabbed 11 rebounds, the second time this season and the 13th time in her career she finished with double-digit rebounds.
- Andrea Hernangomez dished out a game-high eight assists.
THE OPPONENT
- Brown and Cavanaugh combined to score 24 of Fairfield's 49 points.
- Hernangomez handed out eight assists, the most by an opponent individually against Iona this season. She was also responsible for five of the team's 13 steals.
- The Stags limited the Gaels to just 19 made field goals, a season-low mark offensively for the Maroon & Gold.
- Defensively, Fairfield forced Iona into 29 turnovers and registered 11 fast-break points.
TEAM STATS
- Iona shot 19-of-42 (45.2%) from the floor. The Gaels have shot 40 percent or better in all but one game this season so far.
- The Gaels turned the ball over 29 times, leading to 17 points for the Stags. Iona registered 13 steals, a season-best mark defensively for the Maroon & Gold.
- Iona's 43 points scored were a season low and the Gaels' 25 second-half points matched a season low.
- Fairfield won the rebounding battle, 31-30, and grabbed 11 offensive boards. The Stags managed just three second-chance points despite grabbing double-digit offensive rebounds.
- The Maroon & Gold shot just two free throws, making one. The Stags converted on 8-of-14 from the charity stripe.
- The two sides combined to score just 14 points in the fourth quarter after scoring a combined 36 to open play in the second half.
AROUND THE MAAC
- Canisius topped Marist, 65-61, at the Koessler Athletic Center.
- Quinnipiac beat Manhattan, 69-55, at M&T Bank Arena.
- Niagara downed Rider, 74-67, at the Gallagher Center.
- Mount St. Mary's defeated Siena, 65-59, at Knott Arena.
UP NEXT
Iona returns to action on Thursday, December 29 at home against Niagara. The Gaels and the Purple Eagles tip at 6:00 p.m. at the Hynes Athletics Center.
SOCIAL MEDIA
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