BUFFALO, NY — The Iona University women's basketball team shot a blistering 57.7% from the field in the second half to erase a four-point first half deficit and earn a 71-58 win over Canisius Thursday night. The Gaels have won three straight Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference contests as the calendar rolls into March.
 
Sophomore Noa Givon recorded a team-high 17 points on 6-of-11 shooting. Junior Judith Gomez registered a career-high 16 points and grabbed seven rebounds. She led the Maroon & Gold's defensive efforts with four steals and two blocks. Junior Ella Fajardo tied her season-high with 15 points and sophomore Petra Oborilova chipped in 11 points.

THE RUNDOWN

Iona built an early 5-4 advantage with Gomez recording a reverse layup and a knock down three-pointer to start the game. A putback layup from Fajardo gave the Gaels a 7-4 lead with 4:56 to go in the first. Canisius would punch back with a 6-0 run to take a 10-7 lead with 2:12 to go. Iona chipped away at the deficit with a 5-3 closing stretch courtesy of Givon to bring the Canisius lead down to one, 13-12.
 
A 7-3 start on layups from Fajardo and Givon and a three-pointer by graduate student Sierra DeAngelo gave Iona a 19-16 lead at the 6:00 mark in the second quarter. The Golden Griffins responded with a 10-4 stretch to take a 26-23 lead with 1:19 left in the opening half. A pair of free throws by graduate student Natalia Otkhmezuri cut the deficit to one but the home team drained its fourth triple of the quarter to take a 29-25 lead into the intermission.
 
Oborilova and Fajardo started the third quarter with three-pointers to go with a driving layup from Gomez for an 8-2 run to take a 33-31 Iona lead with 6:32 to go in the third quarter. Canisius would knot things up shortly after. Momentum quickly shifted back in the Gaels favor, going on a 12-3 run led by five points from Givon to go up 45-36 at the 3:39 mark. The Golden Griffins closed out the quarter on a 5-2 run to cut the deficit to six, 47-41 as the game headed into the fourth quarter. Iona outscored Canisius 22-12 for the quarter, shooting 52.9% in the frame.
 
The Gaels continued to pace the game with a 15-8 scoring margin through the first five minutes of the fourth quarter. Iona shot 5-of-7 from the field to begin the final period. Oborilova and Gomez led the way with five points each. Iona continued to cruise in the final minutes of the game, holding Canisius to 3-of-12 from the field down the stretch and going 7-of-10 from the foul line to secure a 71-58 victory.

IONA PERFORMERS

Givon went 6-of-11 from the field and knocked down three three-pointers to lead the Maroon & Gold.
Gomez had her 11^th double-digit scoring effort, posting a career-high 16 points on 6-of-11 shooting. She also grabbed seven rebounds and led the defensive effort with four steals and two blocks.
Fajardo tied her season high with 15 points on an efficient 5-of-6 shooting including a pair of threes and a 3-of-4 mark from the foul line.
Oborilova posted her second straight double-digit game, scoring 11 points. She has knocked down three three-pointers in each of the last three games.
DeAngelo recorded eight points and a team-high eight rebounds.

THE OPPONENT

Athina Lexa posted a game-high 18 points, 13 of which came in the first half.
Sisi Eleko registered a double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds.

TEAM STATS

Iona out shot Canisius 46.2% to 41.1% for the game.
The Gaels connected on 11 made three-pointers for a 47.8% clip while the Golden Griffins shot 34.8% from distance.
Canisius won the rebounding battle, 37-27.
Iona committed just nine turnovers on the night and forced 18 Canisius turnovers leading to 19 points off turnovers for the Maroon & Gold.

AROUND THE MAAC

Niagara defeated Rider, 75-56 at home.
Mount used a second half comeback to beat Manhattan, 58-43 at Knott Arena.
Siena bested Marist, 73-62 at the UHY Center.
Fairfield continued its winning streak with a 64-46 home victory over Nutmeg state rival, Quinnipiac.

UP NEXT

The Gaels conclude the Western New York swing on Saturday with a 2 p.m. contest against Niagara at the Gallagher Center.