POUGHKEEPSIE, New York – The Marist women's basketball team didn't waste time in returning to its winning ways as the Red Foxes picked up a 55-45 win over the Iona Gaels Tuesday night in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference action.
 
With the win, the Red Foxes improve to 18-11 overall and 14-3 in the MAAC. With the loss, Iona falls to 2-26 overall and 2-15 in league play.
 
SUMMARY

• It was a 7-0 run to start the first quarter for the Red Foxes capped by a corner three from Alana Gilmer.
• Iona would rattle off a 7-0 run of their own towards the end of the first to cut the deficit down to one, 14-13, but the Red Foxes would close with the final four points of the quarter to lead 18-13 after one.
• The Red Foxes and Gaels would hit a wall in the second quarter, as both teams would go on a near three minute scoring drought.
• Almost all of the Red Foxes scoring in the second would come from Alana Gilmer as she scored seven of the team's 14 second quarter points.
• Gilmer would end the first half with 15 points on 6-for-9 shooting, helping push the Red Foxes out to a 32-25 lead at halftime.
• In the third quarter, the Red Foxes would build on their lead while holding Iona to 0-for-10 shooting to start and zero points in the first six minutes of play.
• The offense for both teams would continue to struggle as Iona outscored Marist 9-8 in the third and cut the Red Foxes lead after three to six, 40-34.
• Despite hitting just one field goal in the fourth quarter, the Red Foxes would win the game from the free throw line, converting on 13-of-their-18 attempts.

KEY STATS

• Gilmer led the way with 23 points on 9-for-13 shooting from the field and 4-for-6 shooting from the free throw stripe.
• Gilmer had nine of the teams 15 field goals. 10 of the 15 field goals were assisted on.
• The Red Foxes converted on 24-of-their-30 trips to the free throw line.
• Rebekah Hand was the other Red Fox in double-digits. Hand went a perfect 10-for-10 from the free throw line.
• Grace Vander Weide led the Red Foxes with nine rebounds, Willow Duffell added seven.
• The Red Foxes had 10 total steals, six Red Foxes had at least one, Rebekah Hand finished with three swipes.
• Marist finished the game just 1-for-14 from three point range but held Iona to 3-for-22 on attempts from deep.
• The Red Foxes never trailed, leading the game wire-to-wire.

NOTES

• Alana Gilmer's 23 point game was her ninth 20-plus point game of the season and career.
• Six Red Foxes had at least two made free throws.
• The 10 total team steals were the second time this month that Marist had double-digit steals.
• Marist's last field goal made came at 7:14 to go in the game but had their largest lead of 11 with 1:25 remaining. 

UP NEXT
Marist will celebrate senior night and close out its 2017-18 regular season as they take on Niagara at McCann Arena on Saturday, February 24th. Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m.