LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ — The Iona University women's basketball team bounced back on Thursday night with a 48-40 road victory at Rider. In a back-and-forth tilt the Gaels pulled ahead late in the third quarter at Alumni Gym to earn the season series sweep over the Broncs.
 
Junior Claudia Fiel posted a season-high 14 points on 5-of-7 shooting to pair with five rebounds on her birthday. Sophomore Adrianna Gonzalez added a career-high 12 points for Iona. Junior Zoey Ward grabbed a team-high 10 rebounds along with a team-best three assists and nine points.

GAME SUMMARY

Rider held serve on its home court through the first five minutes of gameplay with a 6-2 lead into the media timeout. A triple out of the break by Ward sparked a 10-0 closing run for Iona. Gonzalez led the way with six points on the run while Ward chipped in four points.
 
Iona continued to hold the Broncs at bay to begin the second quarter with a 7-4 start as Fiel knocked down a triple from the right side. Graduate student Ella Fajardo chipped in a pair of free throws and Gonzalez hit a driving layup for a 19-10 lead. The Broncs punched back with a 7-0 closing run in the final two minutes to make it a 19-17 game at the halftime break.
 
Rider would use a 6-0 swing to start the third quarter take its first lead of the game. Iona countered with points from Gonzalez and Ward to knot it back up at 23-23 shortly thereafter. The Gaels used a triple from Fajardo and a floater from Fiel to take a 28-23 lead. It was back and forth from there as Iona continued to hold a one-possession lead, 36-33 at quarters end.
 
Fiel opened the fourth stanza with a three-pointer off the glass to pad Iona's lead. Rider countered with a 7-3 run over the next three minutes to make it a 42-40 ball game with 3:38 to play. The Gaels locked in down the stretch causing two turnovers and a perfect 4-for-4 at the foul line from graduate student Isabellah Middleton and junior Mya Zaccagnini to seal the 48-40 win.

IONA PERFORMERS

• Fiel went 5-of-7 from the field and including two three-pointers to lead Iona.
• Gonzalez posted 12 points on three made field goals and a 5-for-5 mark at the charity stripe.
• Ward secured a game and team-high 10 rebounds and a team-best three assists.

THE OPPONENT

• Amany Lopez led Rider with 11 points and three assists.
• White Plains native Aliya McIver recorded six points, a team-high eight rebounds and two steals.
• Kristina Ekofo and Aina Perez Mesquida each added six points.

TEAM STATS

• The Broncs shot 30.2% while Iona was held to a season-low 28%
• The Gaels connected on five triples at a 25% rate and the Broncs made four three-pointers at a 23.5% clip.
• Rider held a 40 to 33 advantage on the glass.
• Iona forced 23 turnovers leading to 15 points while Rider only forced 14 turnovers and got six points off takeaways.

NOTABLE NUGGETS

• Iona moves to 38-27 all-time over Rider.
• The Gaels pick up the season-series sweep for the second consecutive season.
• Fiel posted the fifth double-digit scoring performance of her collegiate career and the first as a member of the Maroon & Gold.
• Gonzalez registered her second 10-point showing of the season and set a new career-high
• Ward picked up 10-plus rebounds for the second consecutive game and for the fifth time this season.

UP NEXT

The Gaels return home on Saturday, January 24 for Alumni Day at the Hynes Athletic Center. Iona will host Marist at 1 p.m. for the lone regular season meeting between both teams. Catch the matchup on SNY or ESPN Plus.