NEW ROCHELLE, NY –The Iona College women’s basketball program took care of business Sunday afternoon, taking down the Rider Broncs at Alumni Gymnasium by a final score of 67-48. With the win, the Gaels improve to 16-9 in the season, and 12-2 in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play; the Maroon & Gold now have as many wins in MAAC play as they had the entire 2014-15 campaign.
The Maroon & Gold swarmed the Broncs early; sophomore Philecia Gilmore opened the game with a contested three-point field goal, setting the tone from the onset. At the conclusion of the first quarter, the Gaels had rushed out to a 20-5 lead, holding Rider to just 14.3% shooting in the opening 10 minutes.
The Broncs’ offense would awaken slightly come the beginning of the second frame, but as the Broncs started to warm up, Iona began to catch fire. The Gaels hit 50% from beyond the arc in the second quarter, using a pair of triples from senior Aaliyah Robinson as momentum to carry themselves to a 38-16 halftime lead.
Iona held Rider to six-for-29 (20.7%) shooting in the opening half while managing to hit 38.7% from the floor themselves, and 45.5% from long range.
Using their strong first half performance as cushion, the Gaels cruised throughout the second half, never allowing their lead to get less than 17 points.
Junior Marina Lizarazu recorded a game-high 18 points on five-of-nine shooting, adding in six assists and a steal. In just 29 minutes, senior Joy Adams scored 13 points and pulled down 20 rebounds; the second straight 20+ rebounding effort for the two-time MAAC Player of the Week.
Freshman Alexis Lewis scored 10 points off the bench, and freshman Treyanna Clay boarded seven rebounds in addition to dropping five points.
As a team, Iona committed 17 turnovers, seven coming in the fourth quarter; Rider scored 20 points off the Gaels giveaways.
The Broncs tied a Gael opponent high with 20 offensive rebounds, matching the George Washington Colonials who did so back on Dec. 20; Rider scored 16 second-chance points.
With limiting the Broncs to 48 points, the effort marks the sixth time this season Head Coach Billi Godsey’s has seen her squad limit an opponent to below 50 total points.
The Gaels continue their road swing this Wednesday, Feb. 10, at Siena College. The Saints host the Maroon & Gold for a 7 PM, ESPN3 broadcasted contested.
