Marist University Athletics

(16-16)

1st 2nd 3rd 4th F  Marist 12 17 13 11  53   Iona  16   18   14  9  57  Box Score | Facebook Photo Gallery | Postgame Video

(22-11)

ALBANY, New York – The third-seeded Marist women's basketball team was defeated by second-seeded Iona in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championship semifinal round by a score of 57-53 on Sunday at the Times Union Center.

Sixth-year senior center Tori Jarosz led Marist in both points (18) and rebounds (nine). Sophomore guard Allie Clement added 12 points. Senior guard/forward Sydney Coffey and freshman guard/forward Maura Fitzpatrick each scored eight points, and Coffey also contributed seven rebounds.

Iona's Marina Lizarazu led all scorers with 22 points. Lizarazu shot 9-for-19 from the field and 4-for-6 from three-point range. Joy Adams had a double-double with 10 points and a game-high 12 rebounds. Phelicia Gilmore finished with 16 points, six rebounds, three assists, and two steals. Gilmore drained four three-pointers.

Marist never led in the game, but never trailed by double digits. The Gaels opened the scoring with three-pointers from Gilmore and Aaliyah Robinson on their first two possessions. Iona ran its lead to 8-0 before Marist got on the scoreboard with a three from Clement at the 5:05 mark. The Red Foxes did not hit a two-pointer in the first quarter, but two subsequent threes from Coffey and one from Fitzpatrick cut Marist's deficit to 16-12 after the first 10 minutes.

A Jarosz jumper with 4:41 left in the second quarter brought Marist to within one at 21-20. However, the Gaels answered with scores on their next three possessions – a Lizarazu three, a transition layup by Adams and a jumper by Adams – to build their lead back to eight. A runner by senior guard Eileen Van Horn at the buzzer cut Iona's lead to 34-29 at the intermission.

In the third quarter, Marist was just 2-for-8 from the field, but remained close by going 8-for-11 from three-throw line. The Gaels drained four three-pointers in the period, including one by Gilmore at the 2:23 mark which gave Iona its largest lead of nine points, and went up 48-42 after three.

A basket by Jarosz with 5:16 left in the fourth quarter brought Marist to within one again at 50-49, but a three by Lizarazu two possessions later gave the Gaels a four-point advantage. Jarosz drained two free throws with 1:35 to play, which made the score 55-53. Marist had chances to tie or take the lead on its next two possessions, but committed turnovers on both of them. Gilmore then converted two free throws with 6.5 seconds remaining to seal the victory for the Gaels.

Marist shot .348 from the field (16-for-46), .438 from three-point range (7-for-16) and .824 from the free-throw line (14-for-17). Iona shot .362 from the field (21-for-58), .458 from three-point range (11-for-24) and hit all four of its free throws. Marist held a 35-31 rebounding edge, but committed 18 turnovers to Iona's 13.

Marist is now 16-16 overall. Iona is 21-11. The Gaels will face top-seeded Quinnipiac in Monday's MAAC championship game.