NEW ROCHELLE, NY — The Iona College women’s basketball team had its six-game winning streak snapped at the Hynes Center Friday night by the Rider Broncs, 52-36. The Gaels are now 15-8 on the season, and 10-4 in MAAC play.
The game started on a tough note when senior Marina Lizarazu picked up her second foul midway through the first quarter, forcing Head Coach Billi Godsey to put the reigning MAAC Player of the Week to take her first rest in six games. Rider took advantage of Lizarazu’s absence and closed out the first strong by taking a 10-9 lead.
Midway through the second, Rider went on a 12-2 run over to open up a 20-11. The Gaels had just two points in the frame until Lizarazu broke the drought at the 1:40 mark. Iona had eight turnovers in the quarter and made just two field goals.
Senior Julia Duggan dominated the first half with 12 points and eight rebounds. The Broncs elevated its lead to 11 and led 24-13 at halftime. Iona’s 13 points scored is a season-low for a half this season thus far this season; its previous was 17 in the Gaels first MAAC loss at Fairfield (12/4).
Iona shot 28.6% in the half, and were outrebounded by Rider 23-15. The Broncs had six second-chance points compared to zero for the Maroon & Gold.
Both teams ramped up the defense in the third as neither team netted any points for an extended stretch. Senior Karynda DuPree hit a layup at 9:31, but the Gaels didn’t make another basket until the senior center hit another with 18 seconds left. Iona went 7-for-8 from the free throw line in the quarter but saw its deficit grow to 12 as the fourth began, 37-25.
The Gaels crawled to within seven with 3:50 remaining in the fourth via a pair of free throws from Lizarazu, but the Broncs regained control ended the game on a 9-0 run to hand Iona its fifth MAAC loss of the season.
Freshman Stella Johnson and Duggan each scored a game-high 14 points. Duggan also had a game-high 12 rebounds.
Iona committed 23 turnovers, nearly double its made field goal total of 12. DuPree and Lizarazu had a combined 13 turnovers. Johnson had a game-high five steals for the Broncs.
Sophomore Alexis Lewis had her eighth double-double of the season with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
Iona’s next game is against Monmouth in West long Branch, NJ on Sunday, Feb. 12. The game is being broadcasted on ESPN3.