NEW ROCHELLE, NY — The Iona College women’s basketball team moved to 11-5 in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play with a 57-50 victory over Siena Sunday afternoon at the Hynes Athletics Center. The 57 points are the fewest points scored in an Iona win since a 52-48 victory over Stony Brook on Nov. 18, 2011.
Senior guard Damika Martinez scored a team-high 20 points for the Maroon & Gold, pushing her career total to 2,465 points, and into second all-time on the MAAC scoring ledger, ahead of former Marist standout Rachele Fitz. Martinez is now just three points shy of breaking the record of 2,467 held by Loyola’s Patty Stoffey. Martinez also moved into 64th on the Division I all-time scoring list in the contest as well.
Junior guard Aaliyah Robinson scored 15 points in the game, while junior forward Joy Adams grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds.
The Gaels never trailed in the contest, and took its biggest lead of the first half, 27-16, on a three-pointer by junior forward Cassidee Ranger with 1:39 remaining in the period. It marked the fourth time in league play this season that Iona held an opponent under 20 points in the first half.
In the second half, when the Gaels’ lead was trimmed to three, 40-37, Iona answered with a 9-2 run, taking a 10 point lead, 49-39, on a three by freshman guard Philecia Gilmore. For the second consecutive contest, Gilmore sparked the Maroon & Gold off the bench, scoring seven points in the second half.
Overall, the Gaels outshot the Saints from the field, 42.3% to 40.0%, and connected on five three-pointers in the contest, including three by Robinson. Iona out-rebounded Siena 33-30, snapping a streak of 26 consecutive games in which the Saints held an advantage on the boards.
Siena was led by Meghan Donohue’s game-high 21 points. The Gaels are back in action Friday evening, when they travel to Marist for an ESPNU tilt beginning at 5:00 pm.