BUFFALO, NY — The Iona University women's basketball team marched into Buffalo on Saturday afternoon and defeated Canisius, 60-51 to sweep the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Western New York swing. Junior
Zoey Ward tallied a new career-high with 24 points on 61% shooting for the Gaels.
After the Maroon & Gold were up by as many 13 points in the 3rd, the Gaels stopped the Griffs hopes of a comeback with a 10-0 run in the fourth quarter sparked by Ward and graduate student
Ella Fajardo. Iona earned its first Western New York sweep since the 2022-23 season and improved to 10-7 on the season and 3-4 in MAAC play.
THE RUNDOWN
The Maroon & Gold jumped out to an early four-point lead following a banked three from senior
Ale Civera and an and-one from Ward, making the score 6-2. Over the next several possessions, both teams traded baskets. After the Gaels' lead grew to five, a 6-0 run by the Griffs gave them their first lead of the game. The Gaels responded with a quick 7-2 run of their own, highlighted by a three from Civera and back-to-back jumpers from graduate students
Isabellah Middleton and
Naomi Barnwell, to take a four-point lead heading into the second quarter.
Sophomore
Adrianna Gonzalez opened the scoring in the second quarter with a floater to extend the lead to six. Scoring was scarce to begin the period, with only one basket made in the first three minutes. With five minutes remaining, a three-pointer from junior
Mya Zaccagnini capped an 8-2 run and gave the Gaels their first double-digit lead. After the Maroon & Gold extended the advantage to 12, a quick six-point burst from the Griffs cut the lead to six with under two minutes to play. A driving layup by Ward pushed the lead back to eight as the teams headed into the break.
Middleton got the scoring started immediately out of halftime with a driving layup to push the Gaels' lead back into double digits. Ward followed with a jumper and a layup to extend the lead to a game-high 13 points. During a cold-shooting stretch for the Gaels, the Griffs went on a 13-3 run to trim the Maroon & Gold lead to three heading into the fourth quarter.
After a pull-up jumper by the Griffs cut the lead to one to open the fourth quarter, Zaccagnini answered with a three from the top of the key to restore a four-point advantage. The Gaels then pushed the lead back to double digits with eight unanswered points, capped by another jumper from Zaccagnini. The Maroon & Gold closed out the game to secure a 60-51 victory.
IONA PERFORMERS
- Ward with a new career high in points with 24 on 61% shooting and a career best 11 made field goals. She added seven rebounds and four assists.
- Middleton had a new season high in rebounds with 13.
- Zaccagnini anchored the defense with four steals.
THE OPPONENT
- Shariah Gailes led the scoring and rebounding for the Griffs with 13 points and eight boards.
- Franka Wittenberg led the team in assists with four.
TEAM STATS
- The Gaels held the Griffs to 20% from three.
- The Maroon & Gold were +4 in steals and +8 in points in the paint on the day.
- The Gaels defense was lock down in the second quarter as they were able to hold the Griffs to under 10 points.
NOTABLE NUGGETS
- This was the Gaels third best shooting game of the season, with a field goal percentage of 42%.
- The Gaels continued to move the rock tallying their fourth most assists in a game this season.
UP NEXT
The Gaels return home on Wednesday as the Merrimack Warriors comes into Hynes for an 11 A.M. tip. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.
