NEW ROCHELLE, NY— Iona University women's basketball head coach Angelika Szumilo announced the signing of Isabellah Middleton (Leesburg, VA) and Naomi Barnwell (Chanteloup-Les-Vignes, France) to the spring 2025 recruiting class.
 
The two veterans join the Gaels as graduate students in 2025-26 and bring the Maroon & Gold's recruiting class to five after Claudia Fiel, Johanna Flores and Wilma Tuomi signed earlier this spring.

ISABELLAH MIDDLETON

Isabellah Middleton, a 5-9 veteran guard comes to Iona after spending the last two seasons at St. Bonaventure. Middleton made 28 starts in her first season with the Bonnies in 2023-24. She ranked second on the team with 11.5 points per game and led the Bonnies with 5.9 rebounds per game. Middleton scored double figures in 18 games including four 20-point efforts to go with a pair of double-doubles. She set her career-high in scoring 24 points on 9-of-18 shooting at Saint Louis (2/25/24).

Middleton began her collegiate career at Slippery Rock, making 37 starts across two seasons. She garnered second team All-PSAC West honors in 2022-23 after averaging 17.4 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.2 steals and 1.4 assists per game. For her collegiate career, Middleton has appeared in 78 games, scoring 1,024 points and registering 490 rebounds and 129 steals.

COACH SZUMILO ON MIDDLETON

"We are very excited about the addition of Isabellah Middleton to our Gael family! She's a proven scorer with valuable experience from competing at the A-10 level. She is a three-level scorer, has a great feel for the game, rebounds exceptionally well from the guard position, and brings the toughness and edge we need on both ends of the floor. Her competitiveness stands out every time she steps on the court, and we love the fire she plays with. We're confident she'll make a big impact in our program and embrace what it means to be a Gael." 

NAOMI BARNWELL

Barnwell, a 6-1 forward joins the Gaels after spending two seasons at Robert Morris University. No stranger to New Rochelle, Barnwell collegiate career began with a two-year stint with the Monroe University Mustangs.

In two seasons at Robert Morris, Barnwell appeared in 59 games with 27 starts totaling 341 points and 258 rebounds to go with 46 blocks and 43 steals on the defensive end. She posted 10 double-digit scoring efforts and three double-digit rebounding games. Barnwell ranked second on the team both seasons in blocks. Her best contest with the Colonials came back on December 3, 2023 with a 19-point, 11-rebound contest in a 65-63 win over Youngstown State.

Barnwell began her less than two miles from Iona at Monroe University. With the Mustangs from 2021 to 2023, averaging 10.5 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.7 steals per game across 49 contests. She posted 29 double-digit scoring efforts including two 20-point performances. Barnwell tallied nine double-doubles for the Mustangs.

COACH SZUMILO ON BARNWELL

"We're excited to welcome Naomi Barnwell back to New Rochelle and into our program! With her college experience and maturity, we believe she's ready to have her best year yet at the collegiate level. Naomi is a skilled forward who we believe will thrive in our system. She brings a strong post presence, the ability to score inside and out, and she'll make an impact with her defense and rebounding on both ends of the floor. We're looking forward to everything she'll bring to our team both on and off the court."