NEW ROCHELLE, NY - The Iona University women's basketball team defeated Fairfield, 66-55, on Thursday evening at the Hynes Athletics Center. The Gaels erased a double-digit fourth quarter deficit, outscoring the Stags 27-6 in the final frame to extend their win streak to 12 straight games.
THE RUNDOWN
Facing adversity that hasn't reared its head in quite some time, Iona clutched up and erased a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit to earn a double-digit victory and grind out a 12th consecutive victory. The Stags played tough for three quarters, holding a lead at the half and carrying that advantage in the scoring column into the final 10 minutes of action in New Rochelle. During an eight-minute span in the fourth quarter, Iona connected on 8-of-13 shots from the floor and 3-of-4 free throws and turned Fairfield over nine times. This sequence flipped the script of the entire contest, seeing a 10-point Stag lead turn into a nine-point advantage in favor of the Gaels.
Fairfield was just 1-of-11 from the field during that span, missing all six three-point attempts. The momentum truly turned when Kate Mager buried an end-of-the-shot-clock trifecta from the wing to bring Iona within one point of Fairfield. Another Mager trey on the ensuing possession put Iona in front for the first time since the 6:25 mark of the second quarter. Iona's relentless pressure in the back court forced turnovers and led to easy baskets and trips to the charity stripe that helped the Maroon & Gold pad their lead. A shell shocked Stags' squad succumbed to the stifling Iona defense and left Hynes with a reminder of why Iona is at the top of the leagues' standings.
IONA PERFORMERS
- Kate Mager scored a game-high 21 points, knocking down five three pointers. She was also a perfect 4-of-4 from the charity stripe.
- Juana Camilion added 14 points, playing all 40 minutes in the come-from-behind victory. She posted game highs in assists (8), rebounds (7) and steals (4).
- Ketsia Athias contributed 13 points, adding seven rebounds, five assists and a game-high two blocked shots.
- Judith Gomez also played all 40 minutes, contributing eight points and two steals.
THE OPPONENT
- Callie Cavanaugh paced Fairfield, scoring 14 points on 6-of-16 shooting from the floor. She added eight rebounds and was responsible for the Stags' lone blocked shot.
- Mimi Rubino contributed 13 points, six rebounds and three assists.
- Kate Peek connected on four shots from beyond the arc, finishing with 12 points.
- Janelle Brown played just 21-plus minutes before fouling out, ending her evening with nine points on a season-high three makes from three-point range.
TEAM STATS
- Iona trailed by 10 points, its largest deficit of the night, ending the contest on a 23-4 run to earn a double-digit victory. The Stags turned the ball over 11 times in the fourth quarter and were limited to just 2-of-16 shooting in the frame.
- The Gaels forced Fairfield into 23 total turnovers, finishing with a 30-11 edge in points off of turnovers.
- Fairfield won the rebounding battle by a large margin, 42-29, earning 16 second-chance points offensively. The Stags finished with a 17-8 edge on the offensive glass.
- The Maroon & Gold went to the line 18 times, converting 10 tries from the charity stripe. The Stags earned just three trips, missing one free throw.
- Iona improved to 13-0 this season when scoring between 60 and 69 points and 16-1 overall when scoring at least 60 points.
- The Gaels held the Stags to less than 60 points, marking the fifth straight contest an opponent has scored under 60 points and the 18th time this year.
- The Maroon & Gold improved to 7-0 at home in league play and 10-1 overall at the Hynes Athletics Center in the 2022-23 season.
NOTABLE NUGGETS
- With the win, Iona (18-5 overall, 13-1 MAAC) remains atop the conference standings. Iona's 18 total wins are the most in a single season since the 2016-17 season.
- Camilion now has 1,491 points for her career, and is in sole possession of No. 6 on the program's all-time scoring leaderboard. She is 58 points shy of passing Megan Cobb for fifth-most points all time.
- Mager tied Damika Martinez and Morgan Rachu for fifth-most three-pointers made (76) in a single season. Martinez owns the single-season program record for three-point field goals (107).
- Iona's starting five of Athias, Camilion, Gomez, Hodge-Carr and Mager made their 22nd overall and 14th consecutive appearance together this season.
- Head coach Billi Chambers earned her 133rd career victory overall and 97th in conference play.
- Tonight was the 97th all-time meeting between Iona and Fairfield. The Stags still own a 65-32 edge in the overall series history.
- Today's victory was Iona's 12th consecutive, its longest win streak since winning 18 straight in the 2013-14 season.
- The Gaels' 13-1 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
- Quinnipiac beat Canisius, 73-36, at M&T Bank Arena.
- Siena outlasted Manhattan, 75-65, at the UHY Center.
- Marist fell to Rider, 60-54, at McCann Arena.
- Saint Peter's was downed by Niagara, 80-51, at Run Baby Run Arena.
UP NEXT
Iona returns to action a week from tonight, welcoming Siena to the Hynes Athletics Center for Kids Day on Thursday, February 16. The Gaels and the Saints tip at 11:00 a.m. from New Rochelle.
SOCIAL MEDIA
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