Jan. 4, 2012
Box Score
NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. - With one of their senior leaders and the MAAC's leading scorer sidelined by injury, Iona turned to a pair of freshmen to beat the Saints. Damika Martinez and Alisha Powell both posted career-highs and combined for 48 points as the Gaels ran past the Saints 87-71 at the Hynes Center.
A two-time MAAC Rookie of the Week and the conference's leading freshman scorer, Martinez scored with relative ease. She posted 28 points and nine rebounds, while Powell added 20 as Iona (5-8, 1-1) overcame the loss of Preseason MAAC First Team selection Kristina Ford who missed her third straight game due to injury.
Tied at 17 apiece midway through the first half, the Gaels capitalized on Siena's (3-8, 1-1) sloppy play. Iona went on a 23-4 run over the next seven and a half minutes to quickly put the game away. During the run the Gaels went 5-8 from three and shot 11-23 from beyond the arc for the game.
Iona scored 20 points off 12 first half turnovers by the Saints and pulled down more offensive rebounds (15) than Siena had total rebounds (13). The Saints shot 50% from the field in the first half, but took half as many shots (20) as Iona (40) and found themselves down 13 at intermission, 40-27.
Siena made several mini runs in the second half after getting down by as much as 19, but never got any closer than 10.
While Ford was out, Iona's other senior leader Suzi Fregosi stepped up in a big way complimenting the efforts of the two freshmen. Fregosi posted a double-double with 10 points and 10 assists and did not commit a turnover as Iona snapped a six-game losing streak.
Siena shot 49% (25-51) from the field in scoring their most points in a regulation loss since an 89-75 setback vs, Syracuse on Nov. 14, 2008.
Clara Sole Anglada led the offensive charge with a career-high 16 points on 6-7 shooting off the bench. Lily Grenci added 13 points and eight rebounds, Tehresa Coles had 12 points and Maja Gerlyng chipped in 10.
The Saints return to the ARC Saturday to host Loyola at 2 p.m.
