Women's Basketball Topped By Iona 68-55

NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. – The Fairfield University women's basketball team battled it out with first-place Iona College but fell to the Gaels, 68-55 this evening at the Hynes Center. Iona won their 17th consecutive game and improved to 11-0 in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) play while Fairfield moves to 12-8 overall and 7-4 in league play.

Senior Katie Cizynski posted her eighth double-double of the year, finishing with 22 points on 11-for-17 shooting and 12 rebounds, including the 600th of her career. She moved one step to closer to her 1,000th career point as she now has 953 to her credit.

Senior Brittany Obi-Tabot had 11 points on 5-for-10 shooting, seven rebounds, and a career-high seven assists. Sophomore Kristin Schatzlein added eight points and eight rebounds.

The first half was a close battle with five ties and five lead changes. After a basket by Cizynski gave the Stags the lead, Schatzlein made it a four point advantage, 21-17, with a three-pointer at 10:27. Joy Adams tied it up, 21-21, with a jumper in the lane at 7:04. Adams then returned the lead to the Gaels with a lay-in at 5:55 while Damika Martinez made it a four point game with a jumper at 5:06.

A lay-in by Obi-Tabot and a three by senior Alexys Vazquez from way downtown put the Stags back on top, 26-25. Hayley D'Angelo answered with a three-pointer 25 seconds later to return the lead to the Gaels. A steal and a lay-up by Lizzy Ball tied it up, 28-28, with 2:01 left to play. Iona countered with a quick 5-2 run. A lay-up by Cizynski with 13 seconds left pulled the Stags within 35-32 at the break.

The Gaels opened the second half with a 6-0 run. A jumper by Obi-Tabot at 17:29 gave the Stags the first points of the half. Obi-Tabot narrowed the gap to 41-36 with a jumper at 15:47. Iona built its lead back up to seven points, 47-40, after a lay-up by Adams at 10:32. A pair of buckets by Cizynski made it 47-44 with 9:29 left to play. After a 4-0 run by the Gaels, free throws by Casey Grace and a lay-up by Cizynski pulled the Stags within 51-48 with just under seven minutes to go. Iona answered with a 9-2 run to make it a 10-point contest with 4:37 left. The Gaels staved off the Stags in the final minutes to pull out the 68-55 win.

For Iona, Martinez had 26 points while Adams had 16 points and 10 rebounds for her 18th double-double of the season.

Fairfield closes out its three-game road swing on February 1 at Saint Peter's University at 2pm. The Stags return home on February 4 to host Monmouth University at 7pm in Alumni Hall.

Print Friendly Version