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Shariah Gailes heads to the free-throw line versus Iona
Joe Lehrman
63
Iona Iona 6-11,4-3 MAAC
66
Winner Canisius Canis 3-13,2-4 MAAC
Iona Iona
6-11,4-3 MAAC
63
Final
66
Canisius Canis
3-13,2-4 MAAC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Iona Iona 9 14 17 23 63
Canisius Canis 12 17 17 20 66

Game Recap: Women's Basketball |

Cohesive Scoring Powers Women’s Basketball to Victory Over Iona

Three players scored in double figures and nine players contributed points, highlighted by a 16-point and five-rebound performance from sophomore Shariah Gailes, as Canisius defeated Iona 66-63 Thursday in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference action at the Koessler Athletic Center in Buffalo, N.Y. 

The Golden Griffins improved to 2-4 in league play and 3-13 on the season with their first home victory of the season. The Gaels slid to 6-11 overall and 4-3 in MAAC play.

Gailes had her best game yet as a Griff, scoring a game-high 16 points while shooting 44.4 percent from the field and going 8-for-10 from the charity stripe. She was complemented by an 11-point, three-rebound game from graduate student Jaela Johnson and 10-point, four-rebound effort from junior Mariam Sanogo. Junior Franka Wittenberg also chipped in eight points, six of which came from the free-throw line. Together, Wittenberg and Gailes drew 13 fouls and scored 14 points from the free-throw line.

Overall, the Griffs shot 45.1 percent from the floor, made 17-of-21 free-throw attempts while winning the rebounding battle, 33-25.

POSTGAME COMMENTS FROM HEAD COACH TIFFANY SWOFFARD

 
After going down 4-2 in the opening moments of the game, Canisius took the lead and held it for the remainder of the contest. The Griffs played complementary basketball from the first quarter, with Wittenberg dishing out two assists and five players recording points in the opening frame.

From the 3:31 mark of the second period to half-way through the third period, Canisius went on a 17-5 run, extending their lead to 12 points, their largest of the game. Iona battled back, finishing out the third quarter on a 12-5 run and cutting the lead 46-40 entering the final frame.

Both teams played their best in the final moments with each scoring more than 20 points. Canisius was able to stave off the Iona rally as Wittenberg and Gailes iced the game with 10 made free-throws combined in the final moments of regulation.

For Iona, Mya Zaccagnini scored a team-high 16 points in the losing effort, while Erin Leary added 15 points and three rebounds. The Gaels shot 44.6 percent from the field in the contest, but were outscored 11-2 on fast-break points and 32-24 in the paint while connecting on 7-of-9 chances from the free-throw line.

GAME NOTES
• Thursday's match-up marked the 71st meeting between the two programs and it is the Griffs' 30th win over the Gaels. 
• Canisius made and attempted the most free-throws of the season going 17-for-21 from the line. It is the most for the team since Feb. 24, 2024 when Canisius went 19-for-21 at Quinnipiac.
• The 66 points in the win are the most for the Griffs in a game this season.
• Gailes attempted the most free-throws in a game for a Griff since March 2, 2024, when Sisi Eleko also attempted 10 shots from the line. 
• Freshman Irene Rey Pineda tallied a team-high three assists, the most in her career.
• Thursday's win marked the first home victory for head coach Tiffany Swoffard.

UP NEXT
The Griffs continue their short homestand with a game against defending MAAC champion Fairfield on Saturday. Tip-off with the Stags is set for 1 p.m. and the contest will be streamed on ESPN+.

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