NEW ROCHELLE, NY — Despite a season-high 21 points and career-high 14 rebounds from sophomore Alexis Lewis, the Iona College women’s basketball program dropped a 73-68 contest to Navy on Monday evening. The Midshipmen hit 10 three-point field goals and forced 25 Gael turnovers to hand the Maroon & Gold their second straight loss.
Iona jumped out to a 15-5 lead five minutes in and managed to grasp a 19-15 edge at the close of the first quarter. Lewis had seven points in the period as the Gaels shot 57% to hold an advantage despite committing six early turnovers.
Navy kicked up the defensive pressure in the second quarter, holding the Gaels to just six points while netting 12 of its own. The Midshipmen forced seven turnovers, and converted them into points on multiple occasions. One such moment came at 5:05 when senior Sarita Condie picked Iona’s pocket and gave her team a 22-21 lead. The Midshipmen would not relinquish the lead for the remainder of the game.
Trailing 27-25 at the start of the third quarter, Iona traded baskets with Navy in the high scoring period. The teams combined to shot 60.7% and total for 44 total points. The Midshipmen used four triples in the quarter to extend its lead by two as the frame came to a close.
The Midshipmen used a 9-2 run in the start of the fourth quarter to open up an 11 point lead. Looking for a much-needed answer, freshman Tilasha Okey-Williams hit her first collegiate field goal from the far right corner to bring the Gaels to within single digits with 5:08 to go.
The Gaels held Navy without a field goal for the final 4:46, but the Midshipmen held the Maroon & Gold off scoring it’s final 12 points from the charity stripe. A three-point field goal by Lizarazu got the Gaels within four with 36 seconds left. Iona got the ball back with 26 seconds left with a chance to make it a one-possession game, but an untimely turnover put the ball back in the Midshipmen’s favor.
Navy came into the game having attempted 25 total free throws through three complete games. It attempted 24 free throws in the fourth quarter alone, and had 29 for the game.
The Gaels shot 44.3% for the game, hitting on 40% from beyond the arc. Despite the positive shooting numbers, the Midshipmen was able to come out on top by netting 25 points off a season-high 25 Iona turnovers. They also totaled 16 second-chance points off 17 offensive rebounds.
Lewis shot 9 for 22, scoring a season-high 21 points while collecting a personal-best 14 rebound. On the defensive send, the All-MAAC Preseason Second Team selection had two steals and a career-best three blocks. Lizarazu tied her season-high with 21 points on 8 for 15 shooting. She added in three assists, and two steals.
Senior Karynda DuPree registered her third career double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Both were season-high totals. Freshman Tori Lesko tied her career-best with four assists while boarding five rebounds and scoring five points. Sophomore Treyanna Clay had three assists along with teammates Lewis and Lizarazu.
Navy had five scorers in double-figures, led by senior Justice Swett. Junior Taylor Dunham had 13 points and a team-high four assists. Freshman Kaila Clark came off the bench and tied her season-high with 11 points, and set new career-highs in blocks with four, and steals at five.
Iona travels to Denton, TX to take on North Texas on Saturday, Nov. 26. Tip-off is scheduled for 3 PM ET.