HEMPSTEAD, NY — The Iona University women's basketball team fell to Hofstra, 59-43 to close out the 2024 calender year. The Gaels two-game winning streak over the Pride was snapped on Sunday afternoon at the David S. Mack Exhibition and Sports Complex in the non-conference finale for both teams.
 
Senior Judith Gomez scored in double figures for the second straight game, leading the Maroon & Gold with a team-high 13 points. Sophomore Mya Zaccagnini added nine points. Carle Place, NY native senior Erin Leary posted eight points, nine rebounds, four blocks and three assists playing less than four miles from her hometown.

THE RUNDOWN

Hofstra raced out to an early advantage to kick off the game, connecting on five made field goals to take a 13-4 lead at the halfway point of the opening stanza. Leary scored the first four points for the Maroon & Gold. Gomez chipped in the next five for the Gaels, cutting the deficit to six at the media timeout. The home team continued to hold serve from there taking a 20-12 lead into the second frame.
 
The Pride continued to push the tempo in the second quarter, outscoring Iona 15-8 in the period to take a 15-point lead into the intermission. Sophomore Mya Zaccagnini posted six points on a pair of made three-pointers for the Gaels.
 
Gomez sparked the Iona's offense to begin the third quarter, scoring the team's first eight points while going basket for basket with the Pride in the first three minutes of the restart. Hofstra pushed the lead back 15 with just under four minutes left in the quarter. A driving layup from junior Ally Carman kicked off a 7-2 closing stretch for the Gaels. A driving layup by senior Ella Fajardo in the final minute cut the deficit down to 10 as the game headed into the final frame.
 
Hofstra held the Gaels scoreless for the first four and a half minutes to start the final frame. A pull up jumper from Leary broke up the drought. But the home team continued to hold serve outscoring Iona, 10-4 down the stretch to take the 59-43 win.

IONA PERFORMERS

• Gomez finished in double figures for the second straight game and fifth time this year. She made five field goals including three made triples. Gomez added three rebounds, two assists and a steal.
• Zaccagnini registered nine points with a career-high three made three-pointers in 17 minutes off the bench.
• Leary tallied eight points along with a game-high nine rebounds and four blocks to go with three assists.
• Senior Talia DePetrillo and Fajardo also tallied three assists alongside Leary. All three also picked up two steals.

THE OPPONENT

• LaNae' Corbett posted a game-high 24 points along with six rebounds and four steals for the Pride.
• Chloe Sterling also finished in double figures for Hofstra with 11 points along with six rebounds and three steals.
• Zyheima Swint recorded a team-high eight rebounds and Emma Von Essen dished out a team best three assists for the Pride.

TEAM STATS

• Hofstra shot 41.9% from the field and Iona was held to a 28.1% for the game.
• Iona connected on seven three-pointers for a 24.1% clip and only allowed two triples from the Pride.
• Hofstra commanded the glass, outrebounding Iona 48-37.
• Iona held the slight advantage on turnovers with 15 to the Pride's 16 turnovers. Hofstra capitalized with points on turnovers 18-6.

UP NEXT

It's Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play the rest of the way for the Maroon & Gold. Iona starts 2025 with a road matchup a 7:00 p.m. tip-off at Marist on Thursday, January 2.