LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – Despite its strongest offensive performance of the season, the Iona College women's basketball team fell to Rider on Tuesday night. The Gaels had four different players score in double-figures, a season-first for the squad.
GAME SUMMARY
Aside from freshman
Juana Camilion, Iona's offense was quiet in the opening period of the game. The rookie scored all seven of the Gaels' points in the first, but they trailed by 10 as they head into the second quarter looking for other offensive outlets.
Another rookie,
Shyan Mwai, gave Camilion a little help in the second quarter. The Lowell, Mass. native opened up the scoring in the second period, eventually finishing the frame with six points. Rider doubled up on Iona, leading 34-17 at one point in the second quarter; the Maroon & Gold stormed back however, turning a 17-point deficit into an 11-point game as both teams headed to the locker rooms.
Rider maintained its double-figure advantage through four minutes of the third quarter, but a
Monica Barefield three-pointer with 5:52 left finally brought Iona back within single-digits. Five straight points with a media timeout sandwiched in between made it once again a double-digit game in favor of Rider. The Maroon & Gold scored eight unanswered points and held the Broncs scoreless for exactly three minutes after their 5-0 run, making it a 49-43 game with a minute left in the third. Rider ended the period leading by double-figures once again, 53-43.
The fourth quarter saw both teams continue to trade baskets and with 6:46 left, redshirt sophomore
Tori Lesko put one down from inside the paint and brought Iona within five points; it was the closest that the Maroon & Gold would get for the remainder of the game. When the buzzer sounded for the first media of the final frame, Rider managed to build its lead back up to 10 points. Over the final 3:47, Iona was unable to pull back within single-digits and eventually fell, 75-64 at Alumni Gymnasium.
NOTABLE NUGGETS
- Four players scored in double figures for Iona: Juana Camilion (18), Shyan Mwai (14), Tori Lesko (12) and Monica Barefield (10).
- Camilion's 18 points were highlighted by an efficient 63.6 percent shooting percentage from the floor.
- The 14 points for Mwai are a new career high for the rookie.
- Lesko finished two rebounds shy of her second career double-double.
- Barefield finished with team-highs in threes (2) and free throws (4).
- All in all, six different Maroon & Gold point scorers combined to total a season-best 64 points.
- Iona scored 39 points in the second half, another new high for the year.
- The Gaels' 57 points across the last three quarters nearly eclipsed its previous game-high in points (58 vs. Rider on Jan. 16)
- Rider shot 16-20 from the line, converting on 15 of its 16 total tries in the second half alone.
- Six-time MAAC Player of the Week Stella Johnson totaled six points (2-5 FG) on the night, her lowest scoring output since the second game of her sophomore season.
UP NEXT
Iona will face off with Monmouth on Friday night in West Long Branch. The game will tip at 7:00 p.m. and will be broadcasted on ESPN+.
SOCIAL MEDIA
ICGaels: Twitter, Facebook and Instagram (Email Updates)
Iona Women's Basketball: Twitter, Facebook and Instagram (Email Updates)
