RIVERDALE, NY — The Iona University women's basketball team fell to rival Manhattan, 66-56 on Saturday afternoon at Draddy Gymnasium in the 2023-24 regular season finale.
 
Graduate student Natalia Otkhmezuri led the Gaels with 15 points against the Jaspers. Graduate student Sierra DeAngelo chipped in 12 points and five rebounds. Sophomore Ale Civera posted a career-high 10 points and six rebounds.

THE RUNDOWN

The Gaels started off to a blistering start on an 8-0 run with a layup by DeAngelo, a triple by sophomore Petra Oborilova and three-point play from Otkhmezuri kicking things off. Iona continued to hold serve building to a 14-4 advantage with just under 5 minutes to go in the quarter. The Jaspers finally responded with a 10-2 closing run to make it a 16-14 game at quarters end.
 
Iona continued to lead as the second quarter got underway with a three-pointer by DeAngelo and and jumper from Ward for a 21-6 lead with 6:11 left in the quarter. Manhattan answered with a 6-0 run over the next 1:36 to take a 22-21 lead. It was back and forth from there till Iona ended the quarter on a jumper by junior Judith Gomez and a hook shot from DeAngelo for a 27-26 lead at the half.
 
The third quarter was a back-and-forth battle between both teams as the period saw four tied scores and seven lead changes. Iona held a slight 40-38 advantage with 1:43 to go before the Jaspers closed on a 6-0 run to take a 44-40 lead into the fourth. Otkhmezuri led the Gaels with seven points in the third.
 
Manhattan continued to hold the advantage as the fourth quarter got underway. Iona got within three, 50-47 on a three-pointer by freshman Zoey Ward with 6:30 to go. The would be as close as the Gaels would get as the Jaspers ended the quarter with 16-9 scoring margin to take the 66-56 win.

IONA PERFORMERS

• Otkmezuri finished with a team-high 15 points on 5-of-9 shooting, posting her 14^th double-digit scoring effort of the season.
• DeAngelo added her 19^th game in double figures this season, recording 12 points to go with five rebounds.
• Civera went a perfect 5-of-5 from the field for her career-high 10 points. She also grabbed a career-best and team-high six rebounds.
• Ward and junior Ella Fajardo led the Gaels with three steals each.

THE OPPONENT

• Manhattan had four scorers finish in double figures on Saturday.
• Petra Juric led with a game-high 20 points on 10-of-14 shooting to go with six rebounds.
• Anne Bair recorded 11 points to pair with six assists and four rebounds.
• Ines Gimenez Monserrat and Leyla Ozturk both added 10 points for the Jaspers.

TEAM STATS

• Manhattan held a 52.9% mark from the field while Iona shot 41.1% as a team.
• Both teams struggled from deep as Iona shot 26.3% for the game with five made triples. The Jaspers went 1-of-11 from distance.
• Iona won the rebounding battle with a 25-24 margin.
• Manhattan held the advantage on the turnover margin at 13-10 for the game.

AROUND THE MAAC

• Niagara secured the two seed in the MAAC tournament with an 84-50 victory over Canisius at the Gallagher Center.
• Quinnipiac defeated Marist, 51-42 in the home finale at M&T Bank Arena.
• Mount St. Mary's earned a 56-46 win over Saint Peter's at home.
• Fairfield continued its 26-game winning streak and perfect league record with an 80-54 win over Rider at Mahoney Arena.

UP NEXT

The Gaels will enter the 2024 Hercules Tires MAAC Women's Basketball Championship as the nine seed and will take on eight seed, Rider in opening game on Tuesday, March 12 with a 10:30 a.m. tip-off at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall.