NEW ROCHELLE, NY — The Iona University women's basketball team opened Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play with a 58-44 victory on Thursday evening at the Hynes Athletic Center. The Maroon & Gold improve to 10-3 all-time against the Pioneers in the first matchup between the two schools as league foes.
First-year guard
Chloe Vasquez totaled a career and team-high 17 points. Senior
Ella Fajardo tallied a season-high 13 points and dished out five assists. Sophomore
Zoey Ward registered her second career double-double with 10 points and a career-high 12 rebounds to go with a career-high five assists along with three steals. Senior
Erin Leary added seven points, 12 rebounds and a career-high six blocks.
THE RUNDOWN
Both teams traded baskets through the opening seven minutes as play was constant with no turnovers and zero fouls to get started. Iona took hold of the lead for good with an 8-2 stretch with a pair of triples from Fajardo and Leary to jump ahead 13-9 at the media timeout. Out of the break, the Maroon & Gold connected on two more three-pointers by senior
Judith Gomez and sophomore
Zoey Ward to jump ahead 19-9 at quarters end. Iona's defense held Sacred Heart scoreless through the final 4:29 of play in the opening frame.
Iona kept in going to start the second quarter with a driving layup from Leary and a knockdown three from freshman
Chloe Vasquez to take a 24-9 lead. The Pioneers broke their scoring drought with a layup at the 8:18 mark. Another basket from Ny'Ceara Pryor followed for Sacred Heart for the 4-0 spurt. The Gaels regrouped from there with a 15-4 closing run paced by 10 points from Vasquez in the final 5:05 to take the team's largest first half lead, 39-17 into the intermission.
The Pioneers started the second half strong with a 12-4 start in the opening 3:45 of the third quarter, prompting Iona to call its first timeout. A step-back jumper in the lane from Fajardo broke up the Sacred Heart run. From there scoring slowed as both teams traded five points a side to give Iona a 51-35 lead at quarter end.
Iona continued to cruise in the final stanza to earn the 58-44 win. The Maroon & Gold have now won three straight home wins and picked up the first conference win of the season.
IONA PERFORMERS
- Vasquez shot 7-of-12 from the field for the Maroon & Gold.
- Fajardo drained three triples on her way to 13 points and dished out five assists.
- Ward recorded her second double double of the season, finishing the game with 10 points and 12 rebounds to go with five assists. She tallied three steals and a block on the defensive end.
- Leary finished the game with 7 points, a season-high 12 rebounds and posted six blocks and a steal on the defensive end.
THE OPPONENT
- Ny'Ceara Pryor led the Pioneers with 18 points, seven rebounds and three assists.
- Amelia Wood finished with nine points, four rebounds to go with five blocks and two steals on the defensive end.
TEAM STATS
- Iona shot 41.8% from the field while holding Sacred Heart to a 31.5% clip.
- The Gaels connected on a season-high nine three-pointers and shot a season-high 45% from downtown. Sacred Heart made just four triples at a 27.3% clip.
- Iona held a 41-30 advantage on the glass including a season-high 27 defensive rebounds.
- The Pioneers committed 14 turnovers while Iona finished with 17 turnovers to go with 17 assists.
NOTABLE NUGGETS
- Vasquez totaled double figures for the first time in her collegiate career. She totaled a career high 30 minutes played, seven made field goals and two steals.
- Fajardo finished with a season-high in scoring and her third double digit scoring effort of the season. She dished out five plus assists for the second time this season.
- Ward totaled double digit points for the third time this season. She registered her second double-double of the season and her career. She set new career-highs in assists and tied her career-high in steals.
- Leary posted a season-high 12 rebounds for the 22nd double digit rebounding effort of her career. She also tallied a career-high six blocks on the defensive end. It was the sixth straight game with two or more blocks. Leary has totaled 20 blocks in that stretch.
UP NEXT
Iona continues the MAAC weekend with a trip to Jersey City, NJ on Saturday, December 21 for a 2:00 p.m. matchup at Saint Peter's.
