NEW ROCHELLE, NY — The Iona University women's basketball team recorded its fourth consecutive win on Wednesday night, defeating UMass Lowell 76-56 at the Hynes Athletic Center. The Gaels were led by three scorers in double figures as head coach Angelika Szumilo logged her 100^th career win as a head coach.
 
Graduate student Ella Fajardo posted a season-high 20 points to pair with game-high five assists and four rebounds. Junior Zoey Ward recorded her third consecutive double-double, finishing with 16 points and a game-high 12 rebounds. Graduate student Isabellah Middleton chipped in 10 points and a team-high two blocks along with two steals.

THE RUNDOWN

It was back and forth action to kick off the non-conference tilt at the Hynes Center with both teams trading baskets early. Iona created separation with a 6-2 run led by a pair of three-pointers from Fajardo and junior Mya Zaccagnini to jump ahead 12-6 with 6:53 to go. Down the stretch UMass Lowell held a slight 9-8 scoring edge. Iona took a 20-15 lead at quarters end thanks to a bucket by Middleton in the final seconds.
 
Iona carried momentum over to start the second quarter as senior Ale Civera and Middleton posted back-to-back layups. The Riverhawks controlled the tempo the final 7:30 of the second stanza with an 11-5 closing run. The Gaels made it a 31-26 game as graduate student Naomi Barnwell as time expired.
 
The Riverhawks got hot out of the intermission making their first six field goals in the first four and a half minute to take the two-point lead with 5:29 to go. Iona was held to just two made field goals a triple from Fajardo and a jumper by Ward along with three free throws in the first five minutes. The Gaels reclaimed the lead on a three-pointer from Fajardo with 4:46 remaining. That kicked off a 15-6 closing run for Iona as a steal and score from sophomore Adrianna Gonzalez made it a 54-47 ballgame heading into the final stanza.
 
UMass Lowell pushed the defensive pressure to begin the final frame, eventually making it a six-point affair, 58-52 with 4:36 to go. The Gaels held firm with a 9-4 closing run paced by five points from Ward to seal the 67-56 win.

IONA PERFORMERS

• Fajardo recorded a game-high 20 points on six made field goals including four three-pointers and dished out a game-high five assists.
• Ward also finished with six made field goals and added 12 rebounds, four assists and three steals in the double-double win.
• Middleton chipped in five made field goals for her 10 points.
• Zaccagnini also registered a game-high five assists.

THE OPPONENT

• Jaini Edmonds led the Riverhawks with 16 points and picked up four rebounds and three assists.
• Klimentina Modeva registered 13 points and a team-high nine boards and two blocks.
• Tyanna Medina added 11 points and five rebounds.

TEAM STATS

• As a team, Iona shot 40% from the field including 50% from the second half while UMass Lowell shot 37.3% on the night.
• The Gaels picked up six made three-pointers at a 33.3% clip and the Riverhawks made five triples at a 29.4% rate.
• UMass Lowell held a slight 40-38 advantage over Iona on the glass.
• The Gaels force 18 turnovers leading to 19 points while only committing 13 turnovers that led to eight points for the Riverhawks.

NOTABLE NUGGETS

• The victory was Iona's first over UMass Lowell in the second ever meeting between the two sides.
• Iona improves to 4-0 at the Hynes Athletic Center this season.
• Coach Szumilo in her third season at Iona and seventh overall recorded her 100^th career win in her 187^th game as a head coach.
• Fajardo recorded her fourth career 20-point effort and was two points shy of her career high. It was her first five assist game of the season and the 15^th of her career.
• Ward has logged three straight double-double efforts for the Maroon & Gold. It was her fifth game in double figures this season.
• Middleton recorded double digits in six of Iona's first eight games.

UP NEXT

The Gaels hit the road for the final time in non-conference play on Sunday, December 7 with a trip to Navy for a 3 p.m. contest at Alumni Hall.