LOUDONVILLE, NY - The Iona University women's basketball team defeated Siena, 68-66, on Saturday afternoon at the UHY Center.
Juana Camilion hit the game-winning shot with 30 seconds left to give Iona its seventh straight win.
THE RUNDOWN
Iona raced out to an early 12-4 lead and forced a Siena timeout after converting on 6-of-7 shots to open play. The Gaels' lead grew to 12 points, 17-5, but Siena closed the quarter with 13 unanswered points to take an 18-17 lead into the second frame.
The Gaels re-gained an advantage in the scoring column in the second quarter, expanding the lead to four points, 28-24, on a Kate Mager triple. Similarly to the end of the first quarter, Siena ended the second on a 12-2 run to turn a two-point deficit into a six-point, halftime lead.
The second half was a gutsy performance by Iona on both ends of the floor, erasing a deficit and pulling out a hard-earned victory. It all started with Camilion's third quarter performance. The senior captain poured in 11 of her game-high 21 points in the third period, including a clutch and-one early to even the score. Mager and Judith Gomez also played a key part in Iona staying within striking distance of the Saints, as the aforementioned pair came up with important baskets down the stretch in the third quarter.
A 6-2 run for Iona opened the final frame and put the Maroon & Gold in front, 59-56. Siena went back on top after buckets from Teresa Seppala and Anajah Brown, but baskets by Mager and Camilion granted the Gaels a three-point lead once more. Elisa Mevius buried a trifecta to tie the game at 64 apiece with just over two minutes to play, making things interesting.
Camilion played a role she's grown accustomed to with the Maroon & Gold, especially on the road at Siena: the hero. In the final minute of play, Camilion stepped back and sank a jumper to give Iona a 66-64 lead. After a Siena miss, Mager stepped up to sink a pair from the charity stripe and the Gaels went on to claim a 68-66 victory on the road in Loudonville.
IONA PERFORMERS
- Camilion scored a game-high 21 points, shooting 50% (10-20). It marked the third time this season and the 11th time in Camilion's career that she scored at least 20 points in a game. She led Iona in scoring for the 10th time this season and the Gaels improved to 11-5 in games where she scores in double figures.
- Mager chipped in 20 points, matching a season high with six three pointers made. It was her second 20-point performance of her Maroon & Gold career.
- Athias contributed 10 points offensively, the only other Gael to reach double-digit points. She added seven rebounds and six assists, as well as two blocked shots.
- Gomez connected on three shots from beyond the arc, matching a season-best mark with nine points.
THE OPPONENT
- Three Saints finished in double figures, led by Seppala's 17 points. Ahniysha Jackson (11) and Brown (10) were the others.
- The conference leader in rebounds, Brown grabbed a game-high 10 boards.
TEAM STATS
- Iona's five starters (Athias, Camilion, Gomez, Thoranna Hodge-Carr and Mager) accounted for all 68 of Iona's points. Siena's bench was responsible for 27 points.
- The contest featured 14 lead changes and 11 different instances where the score was tied. Iona's largest lead was 12 points and Siena's was six.
- The Gaels scored 38 points in the second half, erasing a six-point second-half deficit to come away with the road victory.
- Siena finished with 38 rebounds, matching a season best for an Iona opponent. 16 of Siena's 38 rebounds were on the offensive glass and led to 19 second-chance points.
- Iona also matched a season-best effort on the glass, pulling down 12 offensive rebounds. The Gaels finished with 15 second-chance points.
NOTABLE NUGGETS
- With the win, Iona (13-5 overall, 8-1 MAAC) remains atop the conference standings.
- Camilion now has 1,406 points for her career, nine points behind a tie for ninth place on the program's all-time scoring leaderboard.
- Head coach Billi Chambers earned her 128th career victory overall and 92nd in conference play.
- Saturday was the 77th all-time meeting between Iona and Siena. The Saints still own a 45-32 advantage in the overall series history, though Iona has won three of the last four road contests against Siena.
- Today's victory was Iona's seventh consecutive, its longest win streak since the 2015-16 season.
- The Gaels' 8-1 start in MAAC play is the team's best mark since the 2013-14 season when Iona began league play with an unblemished 12-0 mark.
AROUND THE MAAC
- Canisius fell to Manhattan, 64-48, at the Koessler Athletic Center.
- Fairfield outlasted Rider, 64-61 in double overtime, at Alumni Gymnasium.
- Saint Peter's lost to Mount St. Mary's, 61-42, at Run Baby Run Arena.
- Marist hosts Quinnipiac tonight at 7:00 p.m. inside McCann Arena.
UP NEXT
Iona welcomes Saint Peter's to the Hynes Athletics Center on Thursday, January 26. The Gaels and the Peacocks tip at 7:00 p.m. in New Rochelle.
SOCIAL MEDIA
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