NEW HAVEN, CT— The Iona University women's basketball team opened the road portion of its 2025 schedule with a 57-45 win at New Haven on Sunday afternoon at The Hazell Center. The Gaels had four scorers finish in double figures against the Division I newcomer, Chargers for the second straight victory to start the 2025-26 season.

Graduate student Isabellah Middleton led the Maroon & Gold once again with a double-double effort consisting of a game-high 17 points and 10 rebounds to pair with steals and a block. Connecticut native, junior Mya Zaccagnini tallied 12 points, five rebounds and a game-high four assists. Graduate student Naomi Barnwell and sophomore Adrianna Gonzalez chipped in 10 points each for the Gaels.

GAME SUMMARY

The Gaels were in control early from the opening tip with a 9-4 start into the first media timeout. Four starters contributed to the opening run led by four points from Zaccagnini. Iona continued to hold serve in the first quarter, but the home team would eventually make it a four-point game, 15-11 with 2:36 left. The Gaels would get the last punch of the frame on an old fashioned three-point play from Gonzalez for a 18-11 lead.
 
A 6-0 start to the second quarter from New Haven made it a one-point game, 18-17 just over a minute into the stanza. The Gaels countered with a 6-0 spurt of their own led by four points from Gonzalez to extend the lead back up to seven with 5:14 to go. It was back and forth down the stretch with the Chargers holding a 9-7 scoring advantage to make it a 31-26 Iona lead at the halftime break.
 
Iona held serve in the third quarter, outscoring New Haven 15-7 in the frame. Zaccagnini led with five points in the period. Middleton, Gonzalez and senior Ella Fajardo all scored in the frame as well. The Gaels defense held the chargers to just three made field goals and forced six turnovers in the third quarter.
 
New Haven punched back to start the final quarter with an 8-3 start to make it a 49-41 game with 6:41 left to play, prompting Iona to call time out. The Gaels countered out of the timeout with back-to-back layups from Barnwell and Middleton. Both teams traded baskets for the next 1:12 of play. The final 3:34 of play saw zero points as the Gaels walked away with the 57-45 victory.

IONA PERFORMERS

• Middleton posted 17 points on 7-of-14 shooting and grabbed 10 rebounds along with three steals and a block on the defensive end.
• Zaccagnini netted a season-high 12 points to pair with four assists.
• Barnwell went 5-of-10 shooting for 10 points and recorded six rebounds, two steals and a blocked shot.
• Gonzalez went 6-of-7 from the foul line for Iona to pair with two made field goals for 10 points.

THE OPPONENT

• Schuyler Coles led the Chargers with a team-high 10 points.
• Addisen Sulikowski chipped in nine points and a team-high six rebounds.
• Three performers finished with three assists for New Haven.

TEAM STATS

• New Haven led in field goal percentage, 36.0% to 32.3% over Iona.
• Both teams only made three triples on the game with each shooting under 25%.
• Iona won the rebounding battle with a 45-35 margin.
• The Gaels caused 17 turnovers while only committing 10 as a team. 

NOTABLE NUGGETS

• Middleton recorded her second consecutive double-double and the 12^th of her career.
• Zaccagnini tallied her sixth double-digit scoring effort of her career.
• Barnwell finished in double figures for the second straight game and the 12^th time in her career.
• Gonzalez registered a career-high in points, finishing in double figures for the first time in her career.

UP NEXT

The Gaels continue the road swing next week with a trip to the Carolinas. A meeting with the College of Charleston is up first on Friday, November 14 with a 4 p.m. tip-off.