LOUDONVILLE, NY— The Iona University women's basketball team recorded its third consecutive win on Thursday night with a 61-52 win at Siena. In a back-and-forth game at the UHY Center that saw 11 lead changes, the Gaels pulled ahead of the Saints with a 17-8 final 8:17 of gameplay to earn a season-series split.
 
Graduate Student Isabellah Middleton posted her third consecutive double-double finishing with 20 points and 10 rebounds for the second straight game. She added three steals and a block on the defensive end. Junior Zoey Ward recorded a double-double with 16 points and a game-high 11 rebounds. Graduate student Ella Fajardo chipped in 11 points for the Gaels.

THE RUNDOWN

The two teams traded early baskets on each of their opening possessions as the Saints netted a layup and Fajardo connected on a triple for the Gaels. From there Siena dictated the pace with a 13-6 margin over the next four minutes of action. Iona cut the deficit to one on a 5-0 spurt from a three-pointer by Ward and a pair of free throws from Middleton. Saints closed the quarter on a four-point run to take a 19-14 lead into the second stanza.
 
Iona used an 8-2 start to the second quarter paced by five points Ward and a triple from Middleton to take back the one-point lead. Siena punched back with a 5-0 run of its own to take back the lead just under the halfway point of the period. The Gaels countered with a 7-0 run led by four points from Fajardo to reclaim the lead. The home team threw the last punch once again with another four-point run to take a 30-29 lead into the intermission.
 
Siena kept the distance at the start of the third quarter. with a 7-4 start over the first three minutes of action. The Gaels closed the stanza with a 9-5 swing that took advantage of Saints foul trouble with a 7-of-8 mark from the foul line to knot the game up at 42-42.
 
The back-and-forth play began the final frame as the two sides traded baskets to begin the period. Iona created separation with a triple from Middleton and a floater from junior Claudia Fiel. The closest Siena would get was within three points, 51-48 with 6:21 left to play. Iona stamped the win with a 10-4 closing stretch that saw five different scorers contribute. The Gaels defense held the Saints to two made field goals and forced four turnovers to secure the 61-58 win.

IONA PERFORMERS

• Middleton recorded 20 points on six made field goals and a 6-for-7 night at the charity stripe. She tallied 10 rebounds, three steals and one blocked shot.
• Ward added 16 points on six made field goals to pair with a game-high 11 rebounds.
• Fajardo recorded 13 points on four field goals and a 4-for-4 night at the foul line.
• Fiel dished out a team-high three assists.
• Rookie Johanna Flores grabbed a career-high seven rebounds.

THE OPPONENT

• Kaiya Rain Tucker paced Siena with 16 points, nine rebounds, four assists, four blocked shots and one steal.
• Nicole Melious chipped in nine points, two assists and two rebounds.
• Alden Yergey added six points, five rebounds and four assists.

TEAM STATS

• Siena led with a 40.7% field goal percentage to Iona's 35.8% from the field.
• The Gaels connected on five triples at 29.4% clip while holding the Saints to an opponent-low 9.1% and one made three-pointer.
• The Gaels controlled the glass with a 45-33 rebounding advantage.
• Iona was 18-of-24 at the foul line while Siena went 3-for-13.

NOTABLE NUGGETS

• Iona cuts the deficit to 50-35 in the all-time series against the Saints.
• It was the Gaels first win in Loudonville since January 21, 2023.
• Middleton logged her third consecutive double-double and eight of the season. It was her 21^st game in double figures and her seventh 20-point effort of the season.
• Ward also finished in double figures for the 21^st time this year and registered her eighth double-double.
• Fajardo tallied her eighth double-digit scoring effort of the season.

UP NEXT

The Gaels cap the weekend on the road with a matchup at Saint Peter's on Saturday, February 21. Tip-off is slated for 2 p.m. from Run Baby Run Arena.