Box Score

Iona Iona 1-2,0-0 MAAC

Bethune-Cookman BCU 1-2,0-0 SWAC

Iona Iona

1-2,0-0 MAAC

Final

Nov. 15, 2023

Bethune-Cookman BCU

1-2,0-0 SWAC

Score By Periods
Team	1	2	3	4	OT 1	F
Iona Iona	18	16	18	13	7	72
Bethune-Cookman BCU	7	21	17	20	9	74

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | 11/15/2023 10:20:00 PM | Brian Duane / Assistant AD / Athletic Communications

Iona WBB Edged in Overtime, 74-72 By Bethune-Cookman

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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.— The Iona University women's basketball team fell in overtime, 74-72, to Bethune-Cookman on Wednesday evening at Moore Gymnasium. The Wildcats used a strong fourth quarter to retake the lead late before graduate student Sierra DeAngelo forced the extra period with a layup with eight seconds left. But the home team maintained the edge late in the extra stanza to earn the home opening win.

DeAngelo registered a double-double effort in her third game as a member of the Maroon & Gold, tying her career-high with 30 points and setting a new career-high with 13 rebounds.

THE RUNDOWN

Iona kicked off the game with an 8-1 opening run through the first 5:10 of game action, led by five points graduate student Natalia Otkhmezuri and three points from DeAngelo. The Wildcats looked to answer, but only getting to within six at 13-7 with 2:24 to go in the quarter. The Maroon & Gold closed out the quarter on a 5-0 capped by a pair of free throws from junior Ella Fajardo to bring the score to 18-7.

Bethune-Cookman answered to start the second stanza with a 13-6 stretch through the first 3:47 of the quarter to eventually cut the deficit to four at 24-20. Iona punched back the remainder of the quarter to take a 34-28 lead at the half. Sophomore Noa Givon, making her first appearance of the season, registered eight points in the quarter for the Gaels.

Out of the intermission, the Wildcats cut the deficit to three, 37-34 with 6:27 to go. Iona closed out the third quarter strong, outscoring Bethune-Cookman 15-11 in the final six minutes of action. Fajardo paced the Gaels with seven points and DeAngelo added six of her own. As a team, Iona shot 5-of-6 from the floor and 4-of-4 from the charity stripe during that stretch.

Both teams traded baskets to start the fourth quarter, with DeAngelo picking up a pair of buckets for the Gaels. The Wildcats cut the deficit to within one 56-55 with a 5-0 run that prompted an Iona timeout with 7:03 to go. The press continued to cause the Gaels problems, prompting four turnovers over the next four and a half minutes while the Wildcats went on a 10-4 run to take a 65-60 lead with 2:06 to go. Fajardo cut the deficit to two, 65-63 with a big triple at 1:48. Bethune-Cookman missed a pair of shots in the final minute to ice the Gaels. DeAngelo stepped up big with a layup with eight seconds to go to tie the game, 65-65. The Wildcats missed the final shot as time expired, forcing the extra period.

The Gaels used a 5-2 stretch early in overtime, capped by a three from Givon for a 70-67 lead with 3:00 to go. Bethune-Cookman picked up back-to-back baskets to regain the lead, 71-70. DeAngelo used a turnaround bucket to give Iona back the lead, but the Wildcats answered back on the next possession to lead 73-72 with 1:01 left in overtime. Bethune-Cookman had a chance to pad its lead with two free throws with nine seconds left but only made one for a 74-72 advantage. Iona had a look to tie the game once again with three seconds left but were held at bay by the Wildcats who held on for the win.

IONA PERFORMERS

DeAngelo logged 43 minutes on Wednesday night, going 12-of-22 from the floor and 6-of-10 from the free throw line on the way to tying her career in points.
Fajardo finished with 12 points along with five rebounds and five assists.
Otkhmezuri posted 11 points for her second straight double-digit scoring effort.
Givon registered a career-high 11 points in her first appearance of the season, going four-of-five from the field and 2-of-3 from three.

THE OPPONENT

Chanelle McDonald posted a double-double effort for Bethune-Cookman with 24 points and 10 rebounds.
Chanel Wilson added an all-around effort with 19 points, eight boards, a game-high six assists and three steals.

TEAM STATS

Iona outshot Bethune-Cookman on the night 45.8% to 37.7%.
The Gaels connected on seven three-pointers while holding the Wildcats to just two on the evening.
Bethune-Cookman commanded the glass with a 49-38 margin for the game.
The Wildcats also forced 13 turnovers, scoring 17 points off turnovers while just giving up six turnovers that only led to five Iona points.

NOTABLE NUGGETS

Wednesday night was Iona's first overtime contest since falling to Niagara, 66-50 in overtime on March 3, 2022.
DeAngelo recorded her second 30-point effort and first in an Iona uniform. Her double-double effort was the third of her collegiate career. She is the first Gael since Juana Camilion back on March 5, 2022, to reach 30 points in a contest.