FAIRFIELD, CT —The Iona University women's basketball team concluded the 2024-25 regular season with a 69-57 defeat to Sacred Heart on Saturday afternoon. The Pioneers pulled away from the Gaels with a big third quarter to earn the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference season series split.
 
First-year Chloe Vasquez led the Maroon & Gold offense with 16 points to go with a career-high eight rebounds. Senior Judith Gomez registered 15 points to go with two assists and two steals. Sophomore Zoey Ward also finished in double figures with 10 points along with seven rebounds and three steals.

THE RUNDOWN

Sacred Heart raced out to an 11-2 start on Senior Day prompting an Iona timeout at the 5:48 mark. The Gaels responded out of the timeout with an 8-0 run of their own as Gomez and junior Ale Civera knocked down triples and senior Talia DePetrillo recorded a steal & score to make it a 11-10 game. The Pioneers held serve with a 4-0 closing stretch to take a 15-10 advantage.
 
Sacred Heart continued to hold serve to start the second quarter. Ward got momentum going for Iona with back-to-back triples to make it a three-point game with 5:47 to go in the period. The Pioneers closed the quarter on a 12-7 advantage to take a 32-24 lead into the halftime break.
 
The home team pulled away in the third quarter shooting 75% from the field with 10 made free throws for a 28-11 scoring margin. Iona continued to fight in the final stanza, outscoring Sacred Heart 22-9. Vasquez paced the final quarter with nine points for the Maroon & Gold. The Pioneers were able to secure the 69-57 win to earn the season series split.

IONA PERFORMERS

• Vasquez finished one point shy of her career-high with 16 points for the game on 5-of-12 shooting and a 6-of-7 day at the foul line. She also grabbed a career-high eight rebounds.
• Gomez registered her 17^th game scoring double figures, finishing with 15 points. She went 4-of-8 from the field with a game-high three made three-pointers.
• Ward posted her 11^th game with double digit points, finishing with 10 for the game. She also totaled seven rebounds and a team-high three steals.

THE OPPONENT

• Sacred Heart had three scorers finish in double figures led by 24 points from Ny'Ceara Pryor. She also picked up eight rebounds and three steals.
• Emma Kirby chipped in 16 points and seven boards for the Pioneers.
• Amelia Wood registered a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds.

TEAM STATS

• Sacred Heart shot 44.6% as a team while Iona was held to a 29.7% field goal percentage from the field.
• Iona recorded seven made three-pointers at a 28% clip while Sacred Heart shot 42.9% from distance with three made three-pointers.
• Both teams shot double digit free throws with the Gaels going 12-of-15 and the Pioneers shooting 14-of-19 at the line.
• Sacred Heart held a 43-35 advantage on the glass.
• The Gaels scored 13 points on 16 Pioneer turnovers and SHU picked up 15 points on 14 Iona turnovers.

UP NEXT

The Gaels will play in the opening round of the 2025 MAAC women's basketball championship on Tuesday, March 11 at either noon or 2:30 p.m. Stay tuned for final seeding once the conference office announces the official bracket at conclusion of league play this evening.