NEW ROCHELLE, NY — Senior guard Damika Martinez became the first player in Iona College women’s basketball history to score 2,000 career points in the Gaels’ 73-62 victory over Stony Brook Sunday afternoon at the Hynes Athletics Center.
Martinez finished with a game-high 29 points in the contest, pushing her total to 2,023 points. In the process, Martinez moved into fourth all-time on the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference scoring ledger. She is one of only two active players in the nation with 2,000 points, joining Rachel Banham of Minnesota.
Martinez connected on seven shots in the contest, including five from beyond the arc, and went a perfect 10-for-10 from the line. Overall, the Gaels went 20-for-21 from the stripe.
Junior forward Joy Adams filled the stat sheet with 14 points, eight rebounds, three assists and three steals. Junior guard Aaliyah Robinson scored 10 points and grabbed five boards while sophomore guard Marina Lizarazu scored 10 points and dished out six assists.
The two teams traded leads early in the game, before Stony Brook grabbed an 18-11 advantage with 12:41 remaining in the first half. Iona responded with a trio of triples, two from Martinez and one from freshman Philecia Gilmore, to grab a 20-18 advantage.
The Gaels never trailed again in the contest, taking their biggest lead of the half, 31-20, on a jumper by Martinez with 2:19 remaining. Stony Brook scored the final six points of the half, cutting the deficit to five, 31-26, at intermission.
With Iona ahead 43-34, the Maroon & Gold extended its lead with an 7-2 run, grabbing a 52-36 advantage on a jumper by Adams with 12:01 remaining. Stony Brook trimmed the margin to seven late in the contest, before Martinez connected on four late free throws.
The Seawolves had three players in double figures, led by Sabre Proctor’s 17 points. The Gaels are back in action Friday, Dec. 5 at 7:00 pm when they travel to Lawrenceville, NJ for their MAAC opener against Rider.