HAMDEN, CT - The Iona College women's basketball team fell to Quinnipiac, 78-49, on Saturday afternoon at the People's United Center.
Juana Camilion's 14 points were a team high for the Gaels in the loss.
Quinnipiac raced out to an early lead and never looked back. The Bobcats made 10 of their first 14 field goal attempts, grabbing a 21-8 lead just over six minutes into the game. The Gaels were 4-9 during that stretch, though they were held without a point over the final 4:17 of action in the quarter. Quinnipiac ended the quarter on an 11-0 run that spanned four-plus minutes, scoring 20 of its 27 first-quarter points inside the paint.
Iona's defense stepped up during the second quarter, holding the Bobcats without a point for more than five minutes during the final stretch of the period. The Maroon & Gold's offensive struggles continued however, and they trailed 39-12 entering that scoreless stretch for Quinnipiac. Two free throws from Isabelle Lipinski made it 39-14, though it would be Iona's final points of the final 3:50 of the half. Two Quinnipiac baskets in the final minute made it 43-14 in favor of the home team at the break.
The second half was much of the same for Quinnipiac, who continued to enjoy an offensive groove. The Gaels found their footing offensively in half number two, scoring 25 of its 49 points in the second half. Iona shot over 40 percent from the field in both the third and fourth quarters, knocking down four shots from beyond the arc after missing its first seven of the afternoon.
Unfortunately for Iona, the Bobcats had built a large first-half lead and maintained a cushion in the second half. The Gaels' hopes of sweeping the season series from the Bobcats for the first time since the 2013-14 season were thwarted on Saturday afternoon.
NOTABLE NUGGETS
- Iona was led offensively by Camilion (14 points), Lipinski (10 points) and Vezaldenos (10 points). The three scorers combined for 34 of the Gaels' 49 points.
- Camilion notched five steals defensively, the most by an individual this season for the Maroon & Gold.
- As a team, Iona registered 13 steals, its second most in a game this season. Today's loss marks the first for the Gaels this season when recording at least 10 steals. They had won all four of the previous contests with 10 or more steals.
- 25 of Iona's 49 total points came in the second half. Iona shot 14-32 in the half number two after making just six of its 21 attempts in the opening 20 minutes of action.
- Becerra and Weekes each recorded their first field goals made since non-conference play. Becerra had not scored since the Bucknell game (November 23), while Weekes' last basket came against UMass on November 16.
- Gomez knocked down a pair of free throws in the fourth quarter, the first makes from the charity stripe of the rookie's career.
- Quinnipiac held edges in rebounds (46-23), offensive rebounds (15-5), assists (22-10) and paint points (56-22).
- The Gaels are now 7-12 all-time against Quinnipiac and 6-12 during the Billi Chambers' era.
UP NEXT
Iona hosts Niagara on Thursday, February 17 at 7:00 p.m. in its annual Play 4 Kay game. Fans are encouraged to wear pink in support of the Kay Yow Foundation.
SOCIAL MEDIA
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