QU Women’s Basketball Falls to Defending MAAC Champ Iona

Saturday, January 28

Hynes Athletic Center - New Rochelle, NY

2:00 PM

Quinnipiac University

17-5, 10-2MAAC

Iona

13-8, 8-4MAAC

Quinnipiac

Iona College

QU Women’s Basketball Falls to Defending MAAC Champ Iona

1/28/2017 5:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Bobcats Finish With a Season-Low 44 Points in the Loss

By: QU Sports Information

NEW ROCHELLE, New York – After trudging through another difficult shooting day, the Quinnipiac women's basketball couldn't overcome a slow start in a frustrating 58-44, loss at the defending MAAC Champion Iona on Saturday afternoon.

Just two games removed from a season-low 25.3 percent shooting night against Monmouth, Quinnipiac (17-5, 10-2 MAAC) struggled again going 16-for-54 from the floor for a shooting percentage of 29.6, 2-of-19 (10.5 percent) from three and an uncharacteristic 10-for-25 (40 percent) from the charity stripe while also being forced into 16 turnovers. Iona (13-8, 8-4 MAAC) took advantage jumping out to a 29-13 halftime lead while staving off the Bobcats' comeback bid in the second half.

Despite the shooting woes, Quinnipiac's defense was once again undeterred as the Bobcats held the Gaels to 35.3 percent (18-51 FG) and just four makes from long range while being forced into 17 turnovers. Quinnipiac has held 14 of their 22 opponents this season under 60 points while all but six of their 22 opponents have committed at least 20 turnovers. For the season, Quinnipiac has committed fewer turnovers than their opposition in all but two games.

Shades of the 2016 MAAC Championship game reverberated as Quinnipiac was held to 43 points on the afternoon, very much similar to the 57-41 title loss to the Gaels back on March 7, 2016. This year's matchup pitted a battle of the top two scoring defenses in the MAAC against one another and Iona's pace, combined with a big-time performance from Alexis Lewis (22 points, 15 rebounds in 31 minutes), dictated the action throughout.

Points were at a true premium in the early going as Quinnipiac led 29-13 at halftime. Quinnipiac did their job defensively, but shots were not falling on the other end as the Bobcats had to fight against a 20 percent showing (5-25 FG) in the opening half while missing all 10 of their three-point attempts.

Iona's offense wasn't firing on all cylinders early but the Gaels did see their two stars – Alexis Lewis (15) and Marina Lizarazu (10) – combined for 25 of the Gaels' 29 first half points while shooting a combined 10-for-19 (52.6 percent).

Heading into the second half, Quinnipiac's defensive intensity certainly didn't disappear as the Bobcats outscored the Gaels 13-9 in the third quarter but still trailed by 12 to start the fourth.

Still playing with high intensity on both ends, Quinnipiac put together their best moment of the game to open the fourth as the Bobcats strung together a 6-0 run that closed the gap to single digits for the first time in the second half. Three straight possessions ended in points for the Bobcats as Sarah Shewan (Russell, Ontario), Aryn McClure (Springfield Gardens, New York) and Jen Fay (Lynbrook, New York) each found an easy look on the interior.

The six-point moment, however, was short-lived as Lewis responded with a huge three-point make (her fourth of the game) to up the deficit back up to 11 with seven minutes remaining. Quinnipiac had several chances to whittle the lead back down to single digits but couldn't muster enough offense in the end, falling to Iona 58-44.

Shewan finished as the lone Bobcat in double figures as she tallied 10 points, six rebounds and two blocks in 23 minutes. Adily Martucci (Waterford, Connecticut) and Edel Thornton (Gurranabraher, Ireland) each tallied eight points but the next-highest scorer for the Bobcats was Morgan Manz (Southbury, Connecticut) with four.

Lewis was easily the best player on the floor this afternoon as the sophomore standout racked up 22 points (8-13 FG, 4-4 3FG) and 15 rebounds despite fouling out in 31 minutes of action. Lewis set the tone early as she posted 10 points and seven rebounds in the first quarter alone. Lizarazu finished the game with some big makes late on her way to a game-high 24 points (7-16 FG, 10-12 FT) despite struggling with five turnovers.

Quinnipiac hopes to shake off the 14-point road defeat on Thursday when the Bobcats head on the road to face Fairfield at 5 PM from Webster Bank Arena. Bobcat fans can tune in to catch the action on ESPN3.