SOUTH ORANGE, NJ - The Iona University women's basketball team opened the 2023-24 season on Tuesday night, falling to Big East foe Seton Hall, 75-32 at Walsh Gymnasium.  

THE RUNDOWN

Both teams traded baskets in the opening two minutes of action, sophomore Petra Oborilova picked up the Gaels first bucket of the season on a spot up jumper from the baseline. Junior Ella Fajardo recorded her first basket as a Gael on a driving layup for the 4-2 lead. From there it was all Seton Hall, closing the quarter on a 20-4 run for the 22-6 lead.
 
A triple by T'yanna Lops kicked off the second quarter for the Pirates. Iona answered as sophomore Ally Carman recorded her first points as a Gael on a tough layup in the paint with a 8:33 to go in the quarter. The two teams traded baskets over the next six and a half minutes, with the home team holding a 12-10 edge during that stretch. Graduate student Natalia Otkhmezuri chipped in her first five points of the season for the Gaels. Two baskets by Seton Hall in the final minute gave the home team a 41-16 lead into the halftime break.

The Pirates never relented in the second half, forcing 14 Iona turnovers in the final two quarters of play on the way to a 75-32 opening win.

STATISTICAL LEADERS

• Oborilova and Otkhmezuri led the Gaels with seven points each.
• Fajardo grabbed a team-high seven rebounds and a team-high three assists to go with five-points.

TEAM STATS

• The Pirates shot 48.2% from the floor, while holding the Gaels to a 28% clip.
• Seton Hall also commanded the glass against the Maroon & Gold with a 39-26 margin.

THE OPPONENT

• Micah Gray recorded a game-high 11 points for the Pirates.
• Amari Wright recorded a game-high six assists to go with nine points.
• Makennah White posted a near double-double effort with eight points and eight rebounds.

NOTABLE NUGGETS

• In her first career start, Oborilova recorded a a career-high in points.
• Carman set new career-highs with four points and six rebounds in her first appearance with the Maroon & Gold.
• Fajardo set new career-highs in both rebounds (7) and assists (3) in her first Iona start in her home state.

AROUND THE MAAC

Rider was the lone MAAC counterpart in action on Tuesday night, the Broncs fell to Saint Joseph's 71-49 on the road.  

UP NEXT

Iona returns to the Hynes Center for the home opener at the Hynes Center with a matchup against LIU on Sunday, November 12. Tip-off between the Gaels and the Sharks is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. on ESPN+ at the Hynes Center.