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Iona University Athletics

Natalia vs. Providence
61
Winner Iona Iona 3-3,0-0 MAAC
49
Providence PROV 3-5,0-0 Big East
Winner
Iona Iona
3-3,0-0 MAAC
61
Final
49
Providence PROV
3-5,0-0 Big East
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Iona Iona 15 11 17 18 61
Providence PROV 17 16 2 14 49

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | | Brian Duane / Assistant AD / Athletic Communications

Iona WBB Uses Dominant Second Half to Beat Providence, 61-49

PROVIDENCE, RI — After trailing by seven points at halftime, the Iona University women's basketball team outscored Providence 35-16 in the second half to earn a 61-49 victory at Alumni Hall. The Gaels recorded their second straight road win to improve to 3-3 on the season and earned the program's fifth-ever win over a Big East opponent on Saturday afternoon.  
 
Iona had a pair of 20-point scorers against the Friars as graduate student Natalia Otkhmezuri registered a season-high 21 points and sophomore Noa Givon recorded a career-high 20 points. Both Otkhmezuri and Givon led the Gaels with a pair of steals respectively on the defensive end. Junior Ella Fajardo dished out a game-high eight assists with just one turnover while playing all 40 minutes.

THE RUNDOWN

Iona opened the game with two three-pointers from graduate student Sierra DeAngelo and Otkhmezuri to knot the score at 6-6. Both teams remained even as the quarter progressed. Providence used a 5-0 run to take a 17-13 lead into the final minute before Givon answered with a layup with 32 seconds left to put the score at 17-15 after one quarter of play.
 
Providence started the second quarter strong outscoring Iona, 13-5 in over 6:13 of game action. The Friars built up to its largest lead of the game, 30-20 at the 3:17 mark in the frame. Iona used a 6-3 closing stretch with two points from Fajardo, Givon and Otkhmezuri to cut the decifit to seven, 33-26 at the break.
 
Iona started the third quarter strong with a 6-0 run to cut the deficit to one at 33-32 with 6:21 to go in the quarter. A pair of free throws from the Friars broke up the run momentarily. The Gaels closed the quarter on a 11-0 scoring advantage to go ahead 43-35. Iona outscored Providence 17-2 in the third quarter on just 6-of-14 shooting and didn't allow a made field goal (0-16) on the defensive end. Otkhmezuri paced the offense with seven points in the quarter and Givon added five points including a buzzer beating floater to end the quarter.
 
The final frame saw both teams open with quick buckets early. Givon continued her hot hand picking up the first eight points in the quarter for the Maroon & Gold with a three-pointer at 5:42 left giving the team a 51-41 advantage. Iona outscored Providence, 10-8 in the final minutes, going 6-of-7 from the charity stripe late to earn the 61-49 victory.

IONA PERFORMERS

  • Otkhmezuri recorded her third career 20-point performance and her second as a member of the Maroon & Gold.
  • The graduate guard shot 8-of-13 from the field and 3-of-6 from distance to go with two free throws. She added five rebounds, two assists and two steals.
  • Givon posted a career-high 20 points in a career-high 28 minutes off the bench for Iona.
  • The sophomore guard went 7-of-10 from the field and 4-of-5 from downtown. Both new career bests for made field goals. She also recorded two rebounds, two steals and one assist.
  • Fajardo logged all 40 minutes for the Gaels, dishing out a game-high eight assists to just one turnover. She also recorded six points and five rebounds for the all-around effort.
  • Freshman Zoey Ward registered a career-high four points and three rebounds in 12 minutes off the bench for the Maroon & Gold.

THE OPPONENT

  • Olivia Olsen posted a double-double for Providence with 13 points and 12 rebounds.
  • Kendall Eddy added 12 points including a team-high two made three-point field goals.
  • Providence grabbed a season best 47 rebounds on the day.

TEAM STATS

  • The Gaels shot 42.9% for the game while the Friars shot 29.9%.
  • Iona connected on nine three-pointers for a 37.5% clip, Providence only made five threes on a 21.7% shooting from distance.
  • The Friars controlled the glass, out rebounding Iona, 47-30.
  • Both teams were near even on turnovers as the Gaels committed 13 to the Providence, 12. Each team recorded five steals.

NOTABLE NUGGETS

  • Iona earned the program's fifth win against BIG EAST conference opponents.
  • Saturday was the first win against the conference since November 16, 2008 at West Virginia, then a member of the conference. November 9, 2006 was the last victory against current members of the BIG EAST, a 66-56 win over St. John's in the Preseason WNIT.
  • Iona's defense held Providence to a 29.9% field goal percentage and a 21.7% clip from downtown. The field goal percentage by the opposition was a new opponent low for the new season.

UP NEXT

The Maroon & Gold conclude the five-game road swing on Thursday, December 7 against local foe, Hofstra. The Gaels and Pride will tip-off at 7:00 p.m. from the Mack Sports Complex and the contest will air locally on the MSG Network and FloHoops.
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