EDISON, NJ—
Isabellah Middleton and
Zoey Ward of the Iona University women's basketball team garnered All-MAAC distinction, as announced by the conference office on Wednesday morning. Both were selected to the All-MAAC Second Team, earning all-league honors for the first time as members of the Maroon & Gold.
Middleton also earned All-Defensive Team honors after a stellar final season. It was the first time since the 2022-23 season Iona has had two representatives on the all-conference teams.
ISABELLAH MIDDLETON
The graduate student joined the Maroon & Gold for her final collegiate season in 2025-26. She started 29 games for Iona this season, leading the team with 14.0 points, 2.3 steals per game and a 41.8% field goal percentage. She ranks fifth in the MAAC in scoring and is sixth in the MAAC with 6.9 rebounds per game.
Middleton has registered seven 20-point performances this season for the Gaels, good for fourth in the league. She posted a season-high 26 points for Iona back on January 19 against Saint Peter's. The Leesburg, VA native recorded eight double-doubles this season, ranking third in the MAAC.
She made an immediate impact on the defensive end for Iona, ranking second in the MAAC with 68 steals and a 2.3 steals per game average to garner All-Defensive Team honors. It is her second career postseason honor, after earning second team All-PSAC West honors in 2022-23.
ZOEY WARD
The junior had a breakout third season as a member of the Maroon & Gold in 2025-26. She started all 30 games for the Gaels, posting a team-best 8.6 rebounds per game this season. She ranked second in the MAAC in rebounding this season. Ward also scored 13.7 points per game, placing sixth among league scorers. The Gastonia, NC natives 35.3 minutes per game was ranked second in the conference and 29
th in the country.
Ward registered nine double-doubles on the season, finishing second in the MAAC. She recorded six in league play for the Gaels. Her six 20-point games were fifth in the league. Ward tallied a career-high 29 points and 15 rebounds in a win over Saint Peter's.
She collected MAAC Player of the Week and MBWA Player of the week honors after averaging 22.5 points and 13.0 rebounds per game in a pair of wins on February 19 & 21.
The full 2025-26 MAAC All-Conference Selections are below. An asterisk signifies that the student-athlete was a unanimous selection to the respective team.
ALL-MAAC FIRST TEAM
| PLAYER |
TEAM |
POSITION |
| Kaety L'Amoreaux* |
Fairfield |
Guard |
| Meghan Andersen* |
Fairfield |
Forward |
| Madison Roman* |
Merrimack |
Forward |
| Jackie Grisdale |
Quinnipiac |
Guard |
| Ella O'Donnell |
Quinnipiac |
Guard |
ALL-MAAC SECOND TEAM
| PLAYER |
TEAM |
POSITION |
| Francesca Schiro |
Siena |
Guard |
| Isabellah Middleton |
Iona |
Guard |
| Zoey Ward |
Iona |
Forward |
| Brianna Davis |
Manhattan |
Guard |
| Amelia Wood |
Sacred Heart |
Guard |
ALL-MAAC THIRD TEAM TEAM
| PLAYER |
TEAM |
POSITION |
| Lydia Melaschenko |
Merrimack |
Guard |
| Cyanne Coe |
Fairfield |
Guard |
| Anna Foley |
Quinnipiac |
Forward |
| De'Naya Rippey |
Saint Peter's |
Forward |
| Karson Martin |
Quinnipiac |
Guard |
| Lexie Tarul |
Marist |
Guard |
ALL-DEFENSIVE TEAM
| PLAYER |
TEAM |
POSITION |
| Oralye Kiefer |
Merrimack |
Forward |
| Paloma Garcia |
Fairfield |
Guard |
| Isabellah Middleton |
Iona |
Guard |
| Kaety L'Amoreaux |
Fairfield |
Guard |
| Aliya McIver |
Rider |
Guard |
ALL-ROOKIE TEAM
| PLAYER |
TEAM |
POSITION |
| Ella Ryan* |
Quinnipiac |
Guard |
| Francesca Schiro* |
Siena |
Guard |
| Justine Henry* |
Marist |
Guard |
| Kaiya Rain Tucker* |
Siena |
Guard |
| Sophie Nascimento* |
Sacred Heart |
Guard |
UP NEXT
The No. 4 seed Gaels travel down to Atlantic City for the 2026 Air Force Reserves MAAC Championship for a quarterfinal matchup against No. 5 Siena at noon on Saturday, March 7.
