Final Stats

LOUDONVILLE, N.Y. - Iona made 14 threes and scored 28 points off 24 Siena turnovers to cool off Siena Women's Basketball 79-50 at the ARC. Senior captain Tehresa Coles paced the Saints with 13 points.

Two-time defending MAAC Player of the Year and the nation's active all-time scoring leader Damika Martinez posted her third career double-double for Iona (9-7, 6-1) with 25 points on 11-15 shooting and 12 rebounds. Junior reserve Cassidee Ranger added a career-high 23 points, shooting 7-11 from distance for the Gaels which scored the final 14 points of the game to cruise to their fifth straight win.

Siena (10-6, 3-4) led by six early and 22-18 on a fastbreak layup by Coles with 7:57 left in the first half. But Coles quickly picked up her second and immediately thereafter her third foul and momentum quickly shifted. Iona would hold Siena without a field goal for the remainder of the half, ending the stanza on a 14-3 run to take a 32-25 lead at the break.

The Gaels quickly extended their lead to double digits right out of the lockerroom before the Saints answered back. Siena made five of their first six shots of the half and scored 10 unanswered points to rally to tie the game at 39 with 15:30 to play.

But Iona's high powered offense would respond. The Gaels, which are averaging 78.2 points during their winning streak, quickly reeled off the next nine points and ultimately went on a 22-4 run over the ensuing eight minutes to pull away.

Iona shot 64% (16-25) in the second half and 50% for the game, but the three-ball was the difference. Iona, which entered the day ranking 24th nationally averaging 7.9 threes per game, sunk 14-28 from distance.

Freshman forward Margot Hetzke added 12 points and six rebounds for Siena and sophomore captain Meghan Donohue contributed nine points and seven rebounds for the Saints which had entered play winners of seven of their previous eight.

Sophomore guard Marina Lizarazu added 13 points and seven assists for Iona which have won seven of the past nine meetings against Siena.

Following their only home game during a three-week span, the Saints are back on the road for their next two. Siena finishes the regular season series with nine-time defending MAAC Champion Marist Sunday at noon at McCann Arena in Poughkeepsie.