Fahy's Hot Hand Helps Iona Down Women's Basketball 95-80

Iona College senior forward Michelle Fahy scored a game-high 25 points and pulled down 10 rebounds to help lead the Iona College Gaels to a 95-80 win over Canisius College Monday night in the Mulcahy Center in New Rochelle, N.Y. The loss dropped the Golden Griffins to 14-10 overall and 9-6 in the MAAC, while Iona improves to 7-16 overall, 6-8 in conference play. The win snapped Iona's four-game losing streak to Canisius.

Fahy, who entered the game as the league's top scorer with her 18.8 points per game scoring average, shot 9-for-12 from the field, 2-for-3 from behind the three-point arc and 6-for-7 from the free-throw line. She also dished out four assists and was credited with two steals in the win. In all, five Iona players scored in double figues, with Jamie Donnelly and Meg Abele each posting 16 points apiece in the win. Freshmen Regan Pettijohn and Toni Horvath scored 12 and 10 points, respectively. Pettijohn was also credited with 10 rebounds.

Iona took a 30-28 lead with 6:29 left before the half when Horvath hit a three-pointer from the corner. From there, the host Gaels went on a 7-2 run over the next 2:25 to take a 37-30 lead, their largest of the first half. Canisius pulled within 43-39 at the break after sophomore Becky Zak hit a jumper in the lane. Iona shot 59.4 percent from the field in the first half and 40 percent from three-point land, while Canisius shot 53.6 percent from the field in the game's first 20 minutes.

In the opening minutes of the second half, Iona led by as many as six points before the Blue and Gold made a run to push the score to 55-51 with 14:57 left in the game. Canisius scored four-straight points to knot the score at 55-55, but the Gaels answered back with an 11-3 run over the next 5:06, capped by a three-pointer by Fahy. Canisius could only get as close as 79-71 with 2:47 left in the game when Jenel Stevens drained a three from the top of the key, but the Gaels would hold the Griffs at bay by closing out the second half by going 22-for-26 from the charity stripe in the second half.

Stevens scored a team-high 22 points and pulled down 12 rebounds in the loss, while Zak added 19 points and eight assists. Sophomore Cheri Wittlieb finished the night 5-for-10 from the field and 3-for-8 from three-point land for 13 points. Senior Lonnie Brown added 10 points and four rebounds in the loss.

Iona shot 59.3 percent from the field and 50 percent from behind the arc for the game, while closing out the contest 25-for-31 from thr charity stripe. Canisius shot 50 percent from the field and 32.1 percent from three-point land in the loss.

The Blue and Gold will return to action Friday, Feb. 20, when the Rider Broncs come to the Koessler Athletic Center for a MAAC match-up. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.

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Players Mentioned

#32 Lonnie Brown: F; 5' 10"; Senior

#24 Cheri Wittlieb: G; 5' 10"; Sophomore

#20 Becky Zak: G; 5' 6"; Sophomore

Players Mentioned

#32 Lonnie Brown
: 5' 10"; Senior
: F

#24 Cheri Wittlieb
: 5' 10"; Sophomore
: G

#20 Becky Zak
: 5' 6"; Sophomore
: G

Players Mentioned

#32 Lonnie Brown

#24 Cheri Wittlieb

#20 Becky Zak

Players Mentioned

#32 Lonnie Brown

#24 Cheri Wittlieb

#20 Becky Zak