Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Fordham Not Enough for Gaels

The Iona College women's basketball team defeated Fordham by a score of 47-44 in non-conference action at the Hynes Athletics Center, posting back-to-back wins for the first time this season. The Gaels are now at 4-6 on the year while the Rams dropped below .500 at 6-7.

Iona's largest lead in the contest was seven points, a 13-6 edge at the 13:10 mark of the first half. Fordham went on to score the next ten points and moved ahead, 16-13, on a three-pointer by Arielle Collins at 9:53. The Gaels tied it up on a Samantha Kopp three-point play, and from there, neither team was able to gain a significant advantage.

The Rams were in front through the early part of the second period, but would not lead again in the game after the Gaels took over on a basket by Diana Hubbard with 13:38 on the clock. A 6-0 run capped by a Kristina Ford layup put Iona ahead, 35-30 with ten minutes remaining. Fordham managed to tie the score at 40-all with 7:15 to go, then a timely three-point field goal from Tomica Bacic gave the Maroon & Gold the final lead of the night.

Monday, December 20, 2010

Gaels Down Bucknell

Junior Kristina Ford's 17 points led four Gaels in double figures as the Iona College women's basketball team made its way to a 67-54 non-conference victory at Bucknell (2-6).

Flagg, who finished with 11 points, was 9-10 at the stripe to help the Maroon & Gold shoot a season-best 94.1% from the line. Ford went 4-4 in free throw attempts and Ivkovic was 3-3.

After leading 28-21 at the half, Iona mounted a 22-6 run over the early part of the second period to go ahead by 23 at the 13:26 mark. While the Bison got back to within ten with 6:31 remaining, the Gaels maintained their double-digit lead to lock down the 13-point triumph.

Ford (17 pts), Ivokovic (15), and Bacic (15) were the high scorers for Iona while Diana Hubbard led the squad with seven rebounds and added five points. Bacic also showed off her defensive prowess, leading all players with a career-high five steals.

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Spartans Take Down the Gaels

The Gaels played their third of four consecutive games away from home with an 85-51 loss at No. 15/20 Michigan State. The Spartans (10-1) were the third ranked opponent faced by the Gaels in the last two seasons, having taken on No. 1 Connecticut and No. 5 Notre Dame a year ago.

Senior Anda Ivkovic led all players with 16 points, shooting a season best 66.7% on an 8-for-12 showing from the field. Juniors Tomica Bacic and Kristina Ford followed with nine points apiece, while classmate Milica Paligoric had four points and a team-high seven boards. Bacic picked up three blocks in the game as the Gaels matched their season-best total with five.

Michigan State pulled out to a 6-0 lead to begin the match and remained in front the rest of the way. Iona chipped a nine-point spread down to four, scoring five straight points on a Bacic three-pointer and a layup by Ivkovic to trail 15-11 just under ten minutes in. From there, the Spartans pushed their advantage to double figures and maintained a comfortable lead.

The Gaels play again on the road Saturday at Bucknell and then come home for their last game before Christmas break vs Fordham.

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Hubbard Leads a Comeback to Beat Stony Brook

Junior Kristina Ford recorded her first double-double of the year with 13 points and 12 rebounds to help lead the Gaels to a 71-67 victory at Stony Brook (3-4). Iona (2-5) snapped a two game losing streak with the non-conference win. Ford has now scored in double figures in four straight contests and in six of seven games this season.

The Gaels were lifted late by the presence of sophomore guard Diana Hubbard, who made her first appearance of the year after missing the first six games due to injury. In a meeting that featured 11 lead changes and four tied scores, the Maroon & Gold found itself trailing 63-58 with less than five minutes remaining.

Anda Ivkovic made one of two shots from the line with 4:45 on the clock, followed by a Ford jumper and another 1-for-2 performance at the stripe from Marissa Flagg which brought the Gaels within one at 63-62 with 2:49 to go. The Seawolves pushed the lead back to three on a basket by Tamiel Murray before Catherine Lutz answered back with a 2:05 bucket, bringing the score to 65-64 in favor of Stony Brook.

Tomica Bacic grabbed a key rebound on a missed attempt by Destiny Jacobs, with Hubbard scoring on the possession to put Iona ahead 66-65 with 30 seconds on the clock. Hubbard then drained four consecutive free throw attempts as the Seawolves turned the ball over on their next two possessions, and Ivkovic sealed the deal with one final free throw to end the game.

Ivkovic was Iona's high scorer with 15 points, her fourth double digit output in six appearances. Bacic added ten points, eight boards, and three assists while Hubbard finished with nine points. Suzi Fregosi picked up five assists and added two points, four rebounds, and a steal. Lutz matched her best scoring effort of the season with eight points.

Gaels Drop One to Marquette

The Gaels lost to Marquette, 64-50, in non-conference action on the road.Iona kept the game close early, staying within two through the first seven minutes. Down 7-2, freshman Shonice Hawkins converted a three point play with 15:03 on the clock to make it 7-5, and a later basket by Milica Paligoric made it 9-7 in favor of Marquette. From there, the Golden Eagles mounted a surge to take their largest lead of the half, 17 points, by 7:03.

Paligoric kicked off an 11-0 Gael run over the next 2:30 as Iona climbed to within six with three straight triples by Catherine Lutz, Samantha Kopp, and Suzi Fregosi. However, the Gaels did not score over the final 4:30 of the opening half and trailed 37-22 at halftime. Iona narrowly edged Marquette, 28-27, in the second half but could never get closer than 12.

Kristina Ford led Iona with 11 points and seven rebounds. Paligoric matched with seven boards and added six points. Fregosi had a game-high seven assists.

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Gaels go 1 and 1 in the Thanksgiving Classic

The Gaels earned our first victory of the year, snapping a three-game season-opening skid with a 73-67 win over Brown (2-3) in the Iona Thanksgiving Classic. The Gaels more than doubled their first half production with a 50-point second half to claim the come-from-behind triumph.

Anda Ivkovic and Kristina Ford put up nearly identical numbers to lead the Maroon & Gold. Each posted a team-high 18 points on seven field goals, two three-pointers, and two free throws, and both added five rebounds and a steal. Marissa Flagg followed closely with 14 points and a team-best six boards while Suzi Fregosi had seven assists.

The second game of the tournament was not as successful for the Gaels. Iona dropped a 68-60 decision to Toledo in the Iona Thanksgiving Classic finale. The Rockets (3-3) used a significant scoring run in each half in holding off the Gaels (1-4) at the Hynes Center.

Junior forward Kristina Ford led Iona with 16 points and a season-best nine rebounds. Her classmate, Tomica Bacic matched a season-high with 12 points and senior Marissa Flagg posted 11 points and four assists in the loss.

The Maroon & Gold opened up the second half with a flurry. After surrendering a field goal on the first possession, Iona scored eight straight points to cut the deficit to just two points. Bacic was the star of the run, scoring seven points in the 90-second stretch. Ford gave Iona the lead at the 14:50 mark, burying a three-pointer from the wing and putting her squad ahead 38-37. A conventional three-point play by the Rockets and another Bacic jumper on back-to-back possessions knotted the score at 40-40 with 12:40 to play. Toledo began to pull away, scoring 10 straight points over the next 1:10. The Gaels would get as close as five points on two occasions, but could not erase the deficit and free throws in the final minutes accounted for the 68-60 win for Toledo.

Saturday, November 27, 2010

Gaels sign Two for 2011


Head coach Anthony Bozzella has announced the signing of two players to National Letters of Intent during the early signing period. Damika Martinez, a 5'7" point guard from Meriden, CT and Briana Graham, a 6'0" forward from Dearborn, MI will join the Gael squad for the 2011-12 season.

"I am so pleased that these two outstanding student-athletes have decided to join our family here at Iona," said Bozzella. "I give coach Kelly, our recruiting coordinator, and the rest of my staff a tremendous amount of credit for bringing in such a talented twosome."

Martinez, who will graduate from Orville H. Platt High School, has averaged 26 points, ten rebounds, and four assists per game with a career total of 1,350 points. She was named Hartford All-Courant Fab 15 in 2009 and New Haven Register All-State HM in 2008 and 2009. Martinez is ranked among the Top 25 point guards in the Class of 2011 by ESPNU and is included in ESPNU's Top 100 National rankings. In 2010, Martinez played AAU with the NYC Gauchos.

"Damika can do so many different things from both guard positions on the floor. She is a dynamic player who I feel will have an immediate impact on our team."

Graham, who will graduate from Martin Luther King High School, has averaged ten points and six rebounds per game as one of four seniors on her team to go on to play in Division I. She is ranked 58th in her position by ESPN Hoopgurlz, is a McDonald's All-American nominee, and has been inducted into the National Honors Society. Graham played AAU basketball with the Michigan Crossover.

"I'm excited because Briana will bring a toughness and aggressiveness to our team at both the guard and post positions. She is a true competitor who will have an exceptional career here at Iona."

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Gaels Drop Three in WNIT

The Lady Gaels have started off the season on a three game skid. Iona College opened its 2010-11 campaign with a 72-40 loss on the road to Charlotte in the Preseason WNIT. The Gaels had double-digit production from senior Anda Ivkovic and junior Kristina Ford, but struggled to keep pace with the quick and athletic 49ers.

Iona then took on the Knights of Central Florida, in Harrisonburg, VA. The Gaels were led by Kristina Ford with 14 points, followed by Cat Lutz and Milica Paligoric with 8 points apiece. After being tied at 18, UCF mounted a 9-1 run to lead by eight at halftime. The Gaels could never catch-up and ended the game losing 59-48.

The last game in the WNIT Tournament ended with the same result as the first two, with a defeat for the Gaels. Iona was paced by Anda Ivkovic with 22 points and 8 rebounds, along with Marissa Flagg who tallied 16 points, and Tomica Bacic with 12 points and 5 rebounds. Despite outscoring St. Francis University 40-36 in the second half the Gaels could not comeback, losing 77-69 to end the WNIT Tournament. The Gaels look to rebound this weekend against Brown University Saturday, and the University of Toledo Sunday in our Thanksgiving Day Tournament at Hynes Center. Come out and support Iona!

Monday, November 8, 2010

Gaels Win in Exhibition Matchup



The Gaels defeated Philadelphia University by a score of 79-55 in an exhibition matchup at the Hynes Athletics Center. Junior center Milica Paligoric led three Gaels in double digits with 15 points.

Paligoric was followed by classmate Kristina Ford and senior Catherine Lutz who added 12 points apiece. 15 of the 16 Gaels who stepped on the court recorded at least one point in the win. Senior floor leader Suzi Fregosi had a game-leading seven assists.

Iona took a 2-0 lead on a layup by Ford in the opening minutes and remained in front the rest of the way. The squad led by as much as 14 in the first half and pushed the margin as high as 30 in the second. The Gaels forced 27 Hawk turnovers while committing 21.

The regular season gets under way with the Preseason Women's National Invitation Tournament beginning Nov. 13. Iona faces Charlotte in the first round at 5:00 pm in North Carolina.

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

MAAC Media Day

Lady Gaels Ranked Second in Preseason Poll

The Lady Gaels had three players named Preseason All-MAAC team and was chosen in second place by a poll of the league's ten head coaches, as was announced at the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference's annual media day held at B.B. King Blues Club and Grill.

Senior forward Anda Ivkovic and junior guard Kristina Ford were named to the Preseason All-MAAC Second Team. Last year, Ford led all returning players with 9.5 points and 5.6 rebounds per game along with 52 steals, while Ivkovic followed with 8.8 points and 3.9 boards per game before a knee injury cut her season short.

Earning a spot on the Preseason All-MAAC Third Team was senior point guard Suzi Fregosi, who had a league-leading 152 assists as a junior.

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Maroon Madness Kicks Off Basketball Season

The Iona College women’s basketball team kicked off the 2010-2011 campaign with the celebration of Maroon Madness on Friday, October 22, 2010 in the Hynes Athletics Center.
“Maroon Madness is a great event,” Head Coach Anthony Bozzella said. “Our student body comes out in full force, and this event gets all the fans fired up for the season ahead. Liz Faia and her staff do a terrific job putting this event together.”
Maroon Madness served as one of the marquee events of Iona's Homecoming Weekend. The evening featured performances by the Iona pipe band, cheerleaders, dance team, step team, and Born Talent (who performed the Iona basketball song). The event also included an assortment of prizes, contests, and promotions.
The players and coaches received a special introduction as they entered the gym one at a time to the roaring applause of the energetic crowd. The gym was packed with Iona students, alumni, and fans of all ages.
“The atmosphere is really exciting,” freshman forward/center Sabrina Jeridore said. “The support of the fans means a lot to us.”
Iona unveiled a banner honoring the Gaels’ 2010 WNIT berth. Senior guard Suzi Fregosi and Director of Basketball Operations Thazina Cook (a senior on last year’s team) conducted the unveiling of the banner.
“It’s a big honor,” Fregosi said. “It’s nice to know that we’ve made our mark.”
The Maroon & Gold posted an 18-14 record (13-5 MAAC) last year, finishing second in the MAAC standings. The Gaels’ appearance in the 2010 WNIT marked the program’s third postseason berth in the last four years.
The team delivered a real treat to the crowd at Maroon Madness by performing a skit that included a workout session, dance-off, and offbeat costumes. Senior guard Marissa Flagg and team manager Eric Alston originated the idea and incorporated suggestions from several players.
“We tried to incorporate everything that’s new and hip,” Flagg said. “Everybody grasped the steps really quickly.”
Senior guard/forward Catherine Lutz and junior Jermel Jenkins from the men’s team each paired up with an Iona student and competed in a shooting contest. Some of the men’s players performed a dunking exhibition.
Assistant Director of Athletics Elizabeth Faia coordinated the festivities. Alumnus Scott O'Donnell (Class of 2010) and Associate AD Brian Beyrer shared the role of master of ceremonies. At the end of the evening, Coach Bozzella and Coach Tim Cluess from the men’s basketball team addressed the audience and thanked the fans for their support.
Maroon Madness was truly a special event for the Iona community.

Article Courtesy of Michael Sacks

Friday, October 8, 2010

Preseason Charades

Preseason Awards Luncheon

On Monday we had our annual Preseason Awards Luncheon. At the gathering Coach Bozzella gave out three awards, along with showing two highlight films, and our usual team activity of charades. The awards that were given out were for Most Inspirational, and two for Most Improved. Senior Suzi Fregosi was awarded the Most Inspirational for the second straight year. The whole team did a great job over the summer and during the preseason improving their game, but Juniors Sarah Schoof and Milica Paligoric stood above the rest. Overall it was a great celebration of our preseason and a nice way to begin our first practice of the year!

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

McLean to Play Professionally in Poland

Former Iona College women's basketball powerhouse Anna McLean has been signed to play for Polish professional team Utex Row Rybnik out of Rybnik, Poland. McLean graduated as Iona's all-time leader in blocks (185) and games played (128). She was a two-time All-MAAC selection, being named to the Second Team in 2008 and the Third Team in 2010.

"I am very proud of Anna," expressed Gael head coach Anthony Bozzella. "All of her hard work over the years has paid off, and I know she will have success as she continues her basketball career."

The Polish league is one of the best leagues in Europe along with countries such as Russia, Turkey, Spain, Italy, Israel, and France. Utex Row Rybnik played its first game of the year on October 2 and the regular season continues through March 12. Other notable Americans playing in Poland this season are Jane Morris, first round draft pick for the Indiana Fever; Monica Wright, first round draft pick and second pick overall for the Washington Mystics; Janell Burse, center for the Seattle Storm; and Nicole Powell, first round draft pick in 2004 and a starter for the NY Liberty.

McLean is the newest in a long list of Iona athletes to play professionally and the fourth in recent years. Also going on to play in Europe were Jessica Smith '08 (Denmark) and Polina Hadjiyankova '08. Martina Weber '07, who signed with the New York Liberty, is the only player in MAAC history to join the WNBA.

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Hynes Center Receives Renovations

Our home floor, the Hynes Center, has had major improvements over this year’s summer vacation. New wooden floors were added to our two practice courts that sit to the side of the Hynes Center’s game court. With these two wooden floors, which use to be rubber, all Gael indoor sports can use the gym more efficiently and safely.

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Beginning a Season to the “Next Level”

The Iona Lady Gaels once again started their pre-season with a bang! On a sunny Saturday the Gaels went on their annual team retreat. This year the players took part in Mindset Combat Training which involved pushing themselves mentally, physically and emotionally to the next level. They were led by Eric Kapitulik, the founder and CEO of The Program, a fitness and leadership training business that works to instill commitment, courage, and integrity through two different training programs; Judgment Day (which Iona took part in last year), and Mindset Combat Training.

This year the players began with learning what a true competitor is and how she can overcome many daily obstacles through a 45 minute informational session given by Marine Joe Morgan. They then moved to the field to prove that they could live up to the next challenge. They went through a thirty minute Marine drill session followed by team Tug of War and Combat Pugil Sticks competition. The final challenge was a one mile uphill mountain run through the woods and rocks carrying sandbags. All the players did fantastic, with Anda Ivkovic winning the hardest worker award. It was a great day that most definitely helped take our team’s first steps to the “Next Level.”

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Iona Adds Three More to the Team

We are very pleased to announce our 2010 recruiting class. Sabrina Jeridore, a 6'4" center from Francis Lewis High School in Queens, NY, guard Jackie Marshall from Hackensack, NJ and Shonice Hawkins, a 5'6" guard out of St. Anthony's High School in Jersey City, NJ are joining the squad for the 2010 season

"They are as talented a group of players as we've brought in and I am looking forward to their development as basketball players in our system," said Anthony Bozzella

Jeridore is coming off a senior season at Francis Lewis (20-5) in which she averaged 10.1 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 5.2 blocks per game. She was voted First Team All-Queens by the New York Post and Honorable Mention by the Daily News. Jeridore was also ranked as one of the top 250 players in the nation by ESPN Hoopgurlz. "I feel Sabrina has all the tools to be one of the top centers in the MAAC for years to come."

Hawkins recently completed her senior season at St. Anthony's having averaged 13.4 points, 4.3 assists, and 2.1 steals per game. She was voted Second Team All-Non Public School by the New Jersey Star Ledger. "Shonice is a dynamic, athletic guard who will be able to play both guard positions for us and be very effective in our defensive pressure."

Marshall, a 5'8" guard just graduated from Hackensack High School, where she led them to a 14 and 8 record. While doing so she averaged 21.3 points per game and accumulated 1,245 total career points.

Bozzella concluded, "These young ladies are excellent students and outstanding people who I am proud to bring into our program."

Monday, August 16, 2010

MAAC Women's Basketball Championship to Air on ESPNU

We are happy to announce that the 2011 MAAC Women's Basketball Championship Game, scheduled for Monday, March 7 at 1:00 pm, will be broadcast nationally for the first time on ESPNU, the 24-hour college sports network. The Arena at Harbor Yard in Bridgeport, CT will host the 2011 MAAC Basketball Championships from March 3-7.

"It's a great opportunity for the MAAC to move its premier championship game from a regional network to a national platform like ESPNU," said MAAC Commissioner Richard J. Ensor. "We look forward to the network's 72.5 million viewers tuning in for MAAC Women's Basketball." We hope to be a part of the action!

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Gaels Announce Non-Conference Schedule

Iona College head coach Anthony Bozzella has announced the non-conference portion of the team's schedule for the upcoming 2010-11 campaign. This year, Iona will play an eleven game non-conference schedule with three home contests, seven match-ups on the road, and one site yet to be determined. "As has become customary with Iona women's basketball, our program will be challenged with a tremendous non-league schedule," commented Bozzella. "Having the second most wins in our league (60) over the last five years, combined with three second place finishes and two other top-four finishes, is a direct correlation to the tough opponents we compete against in the non-league portion of our season."

Iona will commence its 2010-11 run with a match-up at Charlotte (Atlantic 10) in the first round of the Preseason Women's National Invitation Tournament on Nov. 13, followed by a second WNIT game against a to-be-determined opponent between Nov. 15-20. "It is an honor once again to be one of only 16 teams nationally to be selected to participate in the preseason WNIT," Bozzella added. Iona's last participation in the tournament was in 2006 when the squad defeated BIG EAST opponent St. John's before losing to ACC opponent North Carolina State.

The team's home opener will take place during the Iona Thanksgiving Classic, hosted at the Hynes Center on Nov. 27 and 28. The Gaels face Brown (Ivy League) on the 27th and Toledo (Mid-American) on the 28th. The Gaels will then take the road against Marquette (BIG EAST), Stony Brook (America East), Michigan State (Big Ten) and then finishing its away game run at Bucknell. Last season, the Spartans reached the second round of the NCAA tournament as a fifth seed where they fell to fourth-seeded Kentucky.

The Gaels will return home to take on local foe Fordham (Atlantic 10) Dec. 22. After Christmas break, the team wraps up non-conference play and the month of December with a trip out west. Iona will get a second look at last year's season-opening opponent with a return trip to Arizona (Pac 10) on the 28th. The Gaels take on Northern Arizona (Big Sky) on the 30th in the final game of the non-conference schedule.

On the team's long-distance travel plans, Bozzella offered, "We are continuing our tradition of taking our student-athletes to outstanding educational and exceptional places around the world. Visiting one of the seven natural wonders of the world in the Grand Canyon will be truly awesome." In recent years, Iona has traveled to England, Italy, San Francisco, Cancun, Mexico and Disney World in Florida.

Monday, July 5, 2010

Gaels Add Two More to the Staff

The Iona Women's Basketball program is happy to announce the addition of Thazina Cook and Jen McNamee to round out the 2010-2011 coaching staff. Cook, as many of you know, had a great career at Iona and led us to a 18-14 record. She now looks to aid our continued efforts of winning a MAAC championship in the position as Director of Basketball Operations. Jen McNamee will be assuming the newly created position of Video Coordinator. McNamee is no stranger to the MAAC having played at league foe Niagara University for the past four years.

Cook is taking over the position from Jess Anger who is now an assistant at UMBC. Anger will be missed but we look forward to watching her succeed in her new program. Cook's responsibilities will include orchestrating team travel arrangements, coordinating community service and school outreach initiatives, and managing the team's academic meetings. While Cook takes over those duties, McNamee's priorities will be tape exchange and film breakdown as well as produce the Gael Gazzette and the team-run web blog. We're excited to welcome Coach Cook and Coach McNamee to our staff!

Monday, May 17, 2010

2009-10 Public Recognition Award

This past Wednesday, the NCAA released that the Iona Women's Basketball program has been honored with the 2009-10 Public Recognition Award. We are very proud to have been given this award, especially since we are the only women's basketball team in the MAAC to be recognized for this accomplishment!

For those of you know are unfamiliar with APR stats...this announcement is intended to highlight teams who demonstrate a commitment to academic progress and retention of student-athletes. Academics are a big part of who we are, at Iona, so this particular award means a lot to us!

Monday, May 10, 2010

Welcome Back DeFalco!

Coach Bozzella has announced the addition of Lauren DeFalco as an assistant coach for the 2010-11 season. DeFalco is taking over the position following the departure of Toni Horvath, who has been with us for the past 3 years. We will miss Coach Horvath very much but wish her nothing but the best in her future endeavors.

It is very exciting to have DeFalco back to be part of the Lady Gaels! She spent the previous 2 seasons as a graduate assistant coach at Sacred Heart, where she assisted in all aspects of the Pioneer program.

DeFalco graduated as Iona's all-time leader in games played, a record she held for two years (now held by graduating senior, Anna McLean). She helped us to the sixth best turnaround in the country in wins total in 2005-06 and to consecutive berths in the WNIT in 2007 and 2008. As a senior, she earned Tournament MVP honors after leading us to our first regular season tournament championship, winning the Bank of Hawaii Invitational. She finished her career with 1,035 points and is Iona's all-time record holder in 3-point field goals made with 167. She is seventh all-time in assists with 315 and fifth in 3-point field goal % (35.4%). Twice she earned a spot on the MAAC All-Tournament team as a junior and a senior after leading us to back-to-back Championship Game appearances.

Needless to say, it is great to have her back as part of our staff. We are confident that DeFalco's success here as a player will now transition into success as an assistant coach!

Senior Dinner

This past Wednesday, May 5th, the Iona Athletics department held a dinner in honor of all of the senior athletes who have put in such much time and effort into their individual sports. Anna McLean and Thazina Cook were 2 seniors who were recognized throughout the night. As we have been saying all year long, we couldn't be more proud of Anna and Z for all of their accomplishments throughout their career and we wish them so much luck in everything they do with their lives! Congrats to all of the seniors!

Thursday, May 6, 2010

End of the Year Banquet--Video

At the end of our banquet last week, Saroya Marsh, one of the best managers that has ever worked for our program, read a poem she wrote about the team. Although it contains a few inside jokes, you can see the family bond that is created amoung all members of our program. Saroya and Mikki, our 2 senior managers, will be missed dearly not only for how hard they worked for us, but as friends!

Monday, May 3, 2010

End of the Year Banquet--Article

"The Iona College women’s basketball team held its sixth annual end of the year awards banquet on Friday, April 30 in Spellman Hall. The Gaels gathered together to celebrate one of the most successful years in program history. This year’s team posted an 18-14 overall record (13-5 MAAC). Iona reached the semifinal round of the MAAC Tournament for the fifth year in a row. The 18 victories tie the mark for the third-highest win total in the program's Division I history. The Gaels participated in the WNIT for the third time in the last four years.

While emphasizing that this year’s success was a total team effort, the coaching staff distributed a number of individual awards at the banquet. Senior guard Thazina Cook received the Best Offensive Player Award, presented by assistant coach Ashlee Kelly. An All-MAAC First-Team selection, Cook led Iona in scoring and ranked fifth in the conference with 14.5 points per game. She also led the MAAC in free throw percentage (87%). Cook finishes her decorated career as the eighth leading scorer in program history with 1,283 career points.

Head Coach Anthony Bozzella presented the Sixth Man Award to Iona's Department of Residential Life, represented at the banquet by Michael Labella, assistant director of residential life. Labella and the Residential Life staff go above and beyond the call of duty all year round to accommodate the Gaels whenever they need anything.

Freshman guard Haley D'Angelo received the Best Weightlifter Award, presented by strength and conditioning coach Khyl Farrison. Farrison emphasized that this award goes beyond weightlifting, reflecting the recipient's outstanding commitment, preparation, and motivation in all of the team's workouts. D'Angelo has exhibited an outstanding work ethic throughout the team's rigorous conditioning program.

Junior guard Suzi Fregosi received the Scholar Athlete Award, presented by director of basketball operations Jessica Anger. Fregosi, a biology major, has excelled in her rigorous coursework (compiling a 3.84 G.P.A.) while also meeting the demands of playing college basketball. Fregosi has earned distinction on the MAAC All-Academic Team every year in which she has been eligible for the honor.

Fregosi also received the Best Defensive Player Award, presented by associate head coach Christi Abbate, the team's defensive coordinator. Fregosi led Iona and ranked fifth in the MAAC with 2.2 steals per game. She frequently drew the assignment of guarding the opposing team's top player. Fregosi played a pivotal role in Iona's tenacious defense, which limited opponents to 58.9 points per game and 38 percent shooting.

Freshman forward Samantha Kopp received the Most Improved Player Award, presented by Coach Kelly. Since entering Iona this year as a highly touted recruit after a phenomenal high school career, Kopp has elevated her game to a whole other level this year. She has developed skills she didn't even know she possessed, gaining self-confidence and earning the admiration of her teammates in the process. Kopp has improved dramatically at every facet of her game.

Freshman guard Diana Hubbard received the Rookie of the Year Award, presented by assistant coach Toni Horvath. Hubbard has had an outstanding freshman year for the Gaels, averaging 7.0 points per game, grabbing 37 steals, and knocking down a team-high 43 three-point field goals. She has made an immediate impact, starting 21 games and averaging 20.9 minutes per game. Hubbard earned a place on the All-MAAC Rookie Team.

Sophomore forward Kristina Ford received the Coaches Award, presented by Coach Bozzella. Coach Bozzella praised Ford for her caring, politeness, and positive attitude, saying that she is a pleasure to coach. Her compassion and respectfulness illustrate her exemplary character. Ford represents Iona with distinction both on and off the court. She is a fine role model for her peers.

Fregosi received the Dr. Rosenberg Award, presented by Provost Dr. Warren Rosenberg, the program's moderator. Dr. Rosenberg said that he wanted to present this award to someone who is a good player, a good student, and a good person. After finding several players who met these criteria, he had to use other factors to narrow down the field. Fregosi distinguished herself in the areas of competitiveness, being a team player, academic accomplishment, leadership, coach-ability, willingness to follow instructions, and work ethic. Dr. Rosenberg cited Fregosi's mastery of organic chemistry as something particularly impressive. Fregosi epitomizes the term "student-athlete."

Cook and Fregosi both received the Most Valuable Player Award, presented by Coach Bozzella. Coach Bozzella praised the two co-captains for their leadership, spirit, and desire to win. Cook had an outstanding year, earning a place on the All-MAAC First-Team. She was also selected to the All-Met Division I women's basketball second team, indicating that she is one of the top players in the metropolitan area. Cook averaged 14.5 points and 7.0 rebounds per game. A stellar defender, she recorded 54 steals and 15 blocked shots. Fregosi also had a remarkable year, earning a place on the All-MAAC Third-Team. She led the MAAC in assists (4.7) and assist-to-turnover ratio (2.6). Furthermore, Fregosi ranked ninth in the nation in assist-to-turnover ratio. An outstanding defender, Fregosi posted a team-high 2.2 steals per game. Fregosi has established herself as one of the top point guards in the metropolitan area.

In addition to the awards, the evening also included two 15-minute video presentations. The first one was a slideshow prepared by Dr. Rosenberg. This slideshow featured about 200 pictures from throughout the year. Dr. Rosenberg's expert photography portrayed the highlights of the season and captured the personalities of the players and coaches. Dr. Rosenberg set the presentation to music, including artists as varied as the Rolling Stones, Eminem, Willie Nelson, the Pussycat Dolls, U2, Cobra Starship, Lady Gaga, and Coldplay, among others.

The second video presentation was a highlight video prepared by Matt Ryan. This video contained a montage of clips from games throughout the season. The presentation also included a tribute to the team's two seniors, Cook and Anna McLean, the two winningest players in the program's Division I history. The music accompanying the video included songs such as "I Got a Feeling," "Empire State of Mind," "Run This Town," and "One Shining Moment," among others.

Near the end of the ceremony, student-manager Saroya Marsh presented a poem she composed about the team. Those in attendance also received copies of a poem written by student-manager Micala Howard about the season in review. Fr. Frank Dixon, the College Chaplain, delivered an invocation at the beginning of the ceremony.

Throughout the evening, Coach Bozzella acknowledged several people who play an instrumental role in the women’s basketball program. The team's student-managers play an integral role in the team's daily operations by performing a multitude of tasks behind the scenes. The managers are Micala Howard, Saroya Marsh, Eric Alston, Nathalie Lovinsky, Noel Emanuel, Michael Ritz, Kara Cerrone, Temma Richardson, and Melody Vega.

Coach Bozzella acknowledged sports information director Jessica Rosenberg, academic advisor Naeemah Ricketts, trainer Aimee Pascale, former trainer Mike Reddington, Tyler Cardinal, Devon Whalen, and Tom Orbacz (all three of whom are from the facilities and operations wing of the athletics department), and the men's basketball team, represented at the banquet by senior Milan Prodanovic. Coach Bozzella also thanked the parents and fans for all of their support.

Coach Bozzella praised the members of the coaching staff for their hard work and tireless devotion to the program. Their combination of dedication, enthusiasm, basketball expertise, passion, and caring for the players rivals that of any coaching staff.

Coach Bozzella paid a special tribute to assistant coach Toni Horvath, who is leaving Iona to become a teacher and to attend graduate school. Horvath has been an indispensable member of the program for the past seven years (four as a student-athlete and three as a coach). Her level of caring and concern for the team is extraordinary. Horvath will surely be missed.

The banquet had about 70 people in attendance and featured an exquisite dinner and dessert. It was truly a special evening for the Iona College women’s basketball program." -Michael Saks

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

National Student Athlete Day

Yesterday, the Iona Athletic Department held a BBQ for each of the 21 varsity sports to recognize National Student Athlete Day. This day has been celebrated annually since 1987 and the Iona Athletic Department does a tremendous job of making sure the student-athletes know how much they are truly appreciated. The BBQ, which was moved inside due to the weather, was held to thank all of the student-athletes for what they do on a day-to-day basis at Iona...because for those of you who didn't know, being a Division I student-athlete, no matter what sport you play, requires A LOT of dedication, time and focus.

There was great food, a fun trivia game and awards for Gael of the Year. Each team had one recipient of the Gael of the Year. Our team gave the award to Suzi Fregosi. Although many of the girls on our team deserved the award, Suzi really epitomizes what it is to be a student-athlete..."student" being the first word in that title. She is a natural leader and we are very happy she could be recognized for her great accomplishments! Congrats, Suzi and to all of the other Gael of the Year award winners!

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Thazina Cook Earns Second Career All-Met Selection

A great way to end a stellar career, Thazina was named to the 2009-10 All-Met Division I Second Team. This award was announced by the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) and the Met Basketball Writers Association. This is the second year in a row that Thazina has won this award, and she deserves it!

A few of her accomplishments that helped her earn this award this year are...
- Named to the First-Team All-MAAC Team
- Named to the MAAC All-Tournament Team
- Led the MAAC in FT %
- Scored 1,283 career points (8th in Iona WBB history)
- Played in 125 career games (2nd in Iona WBB history)
- Led Iona in scoring
- Ranked 5th in the MAAC for scoring
- Ranked 2nd on Iona in rebounding & steals
- Ranked 7th in the MAAc for rebounding
- Ranked 10th in the MAAC for steals


Congrats Z...we are so proud of you!


Monday, April 19, 2010

Wheelchair Basketball Game

Last Thursday, April 15th, the men's team paired up with our team and participated in a wheelchair basketball game against the United Spinal Nassau Kings. The teams traded their sneakers for wheels to compete against the talented wheelchair squad in what turned into an exciting overtime match up between the two teams...giving the crowd a real treat!

Every year both the men's and women's teams participate in this great event sponsored by the Delta Upsilon fraternity. I know our girls had a blast and even some of our managers got into the action as refs for the game!







Thursday, April 1, 2010

Join us at our End of the Year Banquet!

By now you've probably realized that a lot of what we do throughout the year is based on tradition. The end of the year is no different. Each year we hold a banquet to celebrate the season and award those who have done an outstanding job. This year, we've decided to open up our End of the Year Awards Banquet to all who wish to come! You've been such great supporters that we would love it if you came to celebrate the season with us!!

The banquet will include dinner, dessert, player awards & a slide show by our moderator, Dr. Rosenberg, that is sure to entertain! The info is below...hope to see you there!!

Date: April 30, 2010
Time: 6:00 pm
Location: Spellman Hall Lounge (Iona College)
Cost: $20 per person

RSVP to Jess Anger by April 16th
janger@iona.edu
914-633-2658

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Happy Birthday Tomica!

We had a birthday celebration today for Tomica! Happy Birthday!! It only took her one breathe to blow out the candles :)

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Final Game of the Season

At some point, unfortunately, every season must come to an end...and we have reached ours. Last Friday night, at the University of Maryland, our girls entered that court with every intention of giving UMD a great game and coming back to NY with the "W".

The first 15 minutes of the game were great...we fought hard and stayed right with them (or I could say, they stayed right with us!) Then the Terps kicked it into over-drive and ended the first half with a 20-4 run. We never stopped fighting and played hard all the way til the end.

As we've been saying all year long, we are extremely proud of the team and very happy they got to experience what the Post-Season WNIT has to offer. We wish it could have ended differently for our 2 seniors, Thazina and Anna, but the girls are tough and will bounce back to their normal selves soon.

The team will take a little time off and focus on their studies and getting healthy. We will regroup and come back into our post-season with the will and determination to get better everyday for next season.

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

WNIT First Round...To Maryland We Go!

We found out late last night that we will be playing at "Terps" at the University of Maryland this Friday, March 19th at 7:00pm in the first round of the WNIT. We are all excited about the opportunity to play a great team and everyone is ready for the challenge!

This is the third time in 4 years that we have made it to the Post-Season WNIT. This is also the second time we will be facing an ACC team. The last time was on Nov. 11, 2006 in the Pre-Season WNIT against NC State in North Carolina.

"Fear the GAEL!!"

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Help Beat Cancer with WBCA and Papa John's

As a program, we truly believe in the importance of helping others and our community as much as we possibly can. We just came across a great program that many of you can reach out to and help make a difference, as well!

The WBCA (Women's Basketball Coaches Association) has joined with the Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund to promote a special offer from Papa John’s Pizza! From March 16 – April 6, Papa John’s will make a $1.00 donation to the Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund for any online order of an XL, two topping pizza using a special consumer code.

In order to be sure your order goes directly towards the cause, all you need to do it enter the promo code “beatcancer” and your $1.00 donation will be accounted for. We're asking for your help spreading the word about the Papa John’s promotion after Selection Monday, March 15th. Everyone is encouraged to share the program information through e-mails, websites and their social media networks beginning on Wednesday, 3/17! We really appreciate your help with this great cause!

Monday, March 8, 2010

MAAC Tournament

We started out the weekend with a great win over Siena, 59-43. With this win, we advanced to the Semifinal game to play Fairfield for a chance to play in the Championship game. We knew it was going to be a battle all 40 minutes...and we got what we expected.

From the very beginning of the game, until the last few seconds, both teams fought and played their hearts out. We thought we could push Fairfield to their breaking point, since they only play 6 players and their starters had just come off playing 39 minutes the night before. But this was the MAAC Tournament and for a chance to play in the Championship game...no one was giving up and everyone was leaving it all out on the court.

Unfortunately, Fairfield got the better of us and we lost 61-57. They played a great game and did the things they were supposed to in order to get the job done. As heartbreaking as the loss was to swallow, we will still live to play another game (or two, or three, or more) in the WNIT. Thazina was also named to the All-MAAC Tournament team...we are very happy for her and all of her accomplishments throughout her career.

We'll keep practicing and improving on the things we need to get better at...and we will be ready for anyone that comes our way.


Saturday, March 6, 2010

MAAC Awards Ceremony

We are so proud of the girls for all of their hard work and having it pay off with the awards they were up for winning. Z was a candidate for Player of the Year, being on the All-MAAC First team. Diana made the All-MAAC Rookie Team, making her eligible to win the Rookie of the Year award. Suzi was nominated for the MAAC Defensive Player of the Year, while Marissa was nominated for MAAC 6th Man of the Year. Al thought none of the girls won the honors, their hard work throughout the season was recognized this past Thursday night. See the video to hear their thoughts...

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Senior Day Post Game Interview

See what Coach Bozzella, Z and Anna had to say after the game...how they felt about Senior Day, looking back on their accomplishments and looking ahead to the MAAC tournament. It may have been a day to celebrate the seniors and everything they have done for the program...but you better believe they aren't finished yet, we've got more games to go!

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Senior Day Reception

After our game against Rider, the team, coaches, athletic staff, as well as family and friends all gathered together in Spellman Hall for a Senior Day reception. Good food, great company and some interesting speeches from Anna and Thazina had everyone in good spirits. Check out the video dedicated to Anna and Z for all of their hard work and dedication they have put into the program thus far...it's the least they deserve!! Thanks for everything, Seniors!!

Monday, March 1, 2010

Senior Day Slideshow

Our moderator, Dr. Rosenberg, is at it again. He put together this amzing slideshow for our seniors, Z and Anna, for the Senior Day post-game reception after yesterday's game. Try not to cry...


Senior Day

"The Iona College women's basketball team celebrated Senior Day on Sunday, February 28, 2010, in the Hynes Athletics Center. The Gaels honored seniors Thazina Cook and Anna McLean. The Senior Day celebration occurred in conjunction with the Gaels' final home game of the year, a 79-43 victory over Rider. The festivities included a pre-game ceremony and a post-game reception.

Cook, a 5-foot-9 guard from Newark, N.J., has had an extraordinary career at Iona. She has played in 122 career games, compiling 1,242 points, 632 rebounds, 100 assists, and 189 steals. A stellar defender and a gifted scorer, Cook has contributed in a multitude of ways for Iona. Her remarkable talent, leadership, and versatility make the two-year captain an exceptionally valuable player for the Gaels.

'Thazina Cook is a tremendous leader and competitor,' head coach Anthony Bozzella said. 'We've had a lot of great players enter our program, and no one is greater than Thazina. She will be missed as much as anyone I've ever coached.'

One of the top players in the MAAC, Cook earned a place on last year's All-MAAC First Team and this year's Preseason All-MAAC First Team. She was also selected to the 2008-2009 All-Met Division I women's basketball second team, indicating that she is one of the top players in the metropolitan area. Cook ranks among Iona's career leaders in scoring (12th), rebounds (ninth), steals (sixth), and games played (third).


McLean, a 6-foot-2 center from Freeport, N.Y., has had an outstanding career at Iona. She has played in 125 career games, amassing 1,028 points, 866 rebounds, and a program-record 180 blocks. A formidable post presence and a defensive stopper, McLean has had a huge impact on Iona's success. Her magnificent combination of talent, devotion, and drive make her an enormously valuable player for the Gaels.

'Anna McLean has meant so much to the Iona women's basketball team's success in the five years she has been a member of our team,' Bozzella said. 'Her competitiveness, teamwork, and drive are unsurpassed by any player I've ever coached.'

McLean has distinguished herself as one of the premier players in the MAAC, earning a place on the 2007-2008 All-MAAC Second Team and this year's Preseason All-MAAC Second Team. McLean holds Iona's career records for blocks and games played, and she also ranks among the program's career leaders in scoring (19th) and rebounds (third). McLean is one of only three players in program history with over 1,000 points and 850 rebounds.

This senior class's stay at Iona coincides with the winningest four-year period in program history (since the Gaels joined Division I in the 1981-1982 season). The Gaels have amassed 76 victories over the past four years, an average of 19 wins a year. Furthermore, Cook and McLean join Naeemah Ricketts as the only players in the program's Division I history whose team has had a winning record all four years of their careers.

During the pre-game ceremony, the Gaels presented Cook and McLean with a framed replica of their jerseys, a bouquet of flowers, and balloons. Bozzella also recognized the team's two senior managers, Micala Howard and Saroya Marsh, both of whom have been an immense help to the team.

Prior to the start of the game, McLean sang the national anthem.

The last career home game for the seniors proved to be a good one for the Maroon & Gold. The Gaels came out firing on all cylinders, jumping out to an 11-2 lead and never looking back en route to their 36-point win. Iona's tenacious defense forced 32 turnovers and limited Rider to 33 percent shooting.

McLean posted a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds. Cook recorded 17 points, five steals, and two blocks. Junior point guard Suzi Fregosi dished out a game-high five assists.

After the game, approximately 100 people gathered in Spellman Hall for a reception in honor of Senior Day. This event featured a delicious meal and a touching slide show tribute to the seniors, prepared and presented by Provost Dr. Warren Rosenberg, the team's moderator.

Senior Day was truly a special day for the Iona College women's basketball program." -Michael Sacks

Saturday, February 27, 2010

McLean Reaches 1,000 Career Point Milestone

"Anna McLean reached the milestone of 1,000 career points during Iona's 82-80 overtime loss to Marist on Friday, February 26 in the Hynes Athletics Center. McLean, a 6-foot-2 senior center from Freeport, N.Y., becomes the 20th player in program history to reach the 1,000 point mark.

This feat marks the latest of many achievements in McLean's decorated career in Maroon & Gold. McLean's exceptional talent, work ethic, and dedication make her an enormously valuable player for the Gaels.

'Anna McLean has meant so much to the Iona women's basketball team's success in the five years she has been a member of our team,' head coach Anthony Bozzella said. 'Her competitiveness, teamwork, and drive have enabled her to be a great player and role model for her teammates. Anna is one of the nicest and most respectful young ladies I have had the honor of coaching in my 18 years as a college Head Coach.'

McLean has distinguished herself as one of the top players in the MAAC, earning a place on the 2007-2008 All-MAAC Second Team and the 2009-2010 Preseason All-MAAC Second Team.

McLean becomes the fifth Iona player coached by Bozzella to score 1,000 points, joining Michelle Fahy, Tiara Headen, Lauren DeFalco, and fellow senior Thazina Cook. Following her 14-point outing against Marist, McLean has now scored 1,009 points as a Gael.

In addition to her prolific scoring, McLean ranks third in program history with 856 career rebounds and holds the program record with 180 career blocks.

Since entering Iona as a talented rookie out of Freeport High School four years ago, McLean has developed into one of the premier players in the MAAC. Over the first two years of her career, McLean established herself as a formidable post presence and defensive stopper, leading the team in blocks both years.

McLean had a breakout year as a junior in 2007-2008, when she averaged a double-double (10.7 points and 10.1 rebounds per game). She played a pivotal role in helping the Gaels reach the WNIT for the second year in a row. She earned All-MAAC second team honors and won Iona's Best Defensive Player Award at the team's year-end banquet in April 2008.

McLean is putting together another stellar campaign as a senior this year, averaging 11.4 points and 8.7 rebounds per game. With a few games still to be played, McLean now looks to put the finishing touches on her outstanding career.

'Anna has truly been one of the greatest players to don an Iona College basketball uniform,' Bozzella said." -Michael Sacks

Monday, February 22, 2010

What a Week!

First, I wanted to say sorry for not keeping everyone updated with this past week's events...it's been a crazy week of games, travelling and more games!!

So, we started off with a home game against Canisius on Monday (2/15). Playing without two of our starters, Anda and Z, we all knew that in order to win, it needed to be a team effort. And sure enough, the whole team came ready to play and we pulled off the W. Anna and Kris both had another double-double, while Milica came up with ten rebounds and five blocks! The inside game was a force to be reckoned with, ending with a 24-6 point advantage in the paint. But when I said it was a team effort, I meant it...we also added nine 3-pointers from five different players (Suzi, Diana, Kris, Tomica & Cat).

After the Canisius game, we had to put the win behind us and focus on Loyola's game on Wednesday (2/17). We were supposed to play Loyola on Friday (2/12), but like I mentioned in the previous post, it got rescheduled due to all the snow Maryland got!

We came into practice on Tuesday and left for MD right after...and when we got down there, we saw why the game got rescheduled! Snow, snow and more snow!! Two-lane roads were now one-lane and you still couldn't walk on the sidewalks because they were buried 3-4 feet under a pile of snow! Snow aside, we knew the game was going to be a tough one. Thazina was back in action but Loyola is NEVER an easy place to play. And, like we expected, it was a battle...the whole game. We ended up winning by 2 after Loyola threw up a full court shot that made all of our stomach's drop for about 2.2 seconds! Another W under our belt, we headed back up to NY to get ready for our Fairfield game.

We played at Fairfield on Friday (2/19). Again, another battle of a game, and our girls pushed through it as much as they could. We couldn't have asked for a better effort, but when you have trouble putting the ball in the basket, it can make it tough to win the game. Unfortunately, that's what happened to us at Fairfield...we performed well in almost every stat possible, except shots made. Again, great effort by every single player on our team, we just came up short in the end.

For the 3rd time of the week, we put the game behind and went into practice focused on our next game, St. Peter's on Sunday (2/21). The team went into St. Peter's, which is one of the hardest places to play in the MAAC, determined to do whatever it takes to get the job done. Defense was the primary focus (as it always is) and we really proved that at St. Peter's, winning 57-41.

With this win, we clinched 2nd place in the regular season standings; however, we still have 2 home games left...Marist this Friday and Rider on Sunday. The Marist game is our "Pack the House" game, so make sure EVERYONE comes to cheer us on...and Rider is our Senior Day, where we will honor our 2 seniors--Z and Anna. Two more regular season games...LET'S GO GAELS!!

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Snow!!

What a day yesterday with all of the snow!! We got about a foot and a half and the school was shut down all day yesterday and early this morning. NY isn't the only place that got hit with the blizzard...MD got another 10 inches on top of the 30 that fell from the storm this past weekend. Because of this, our game at Loyola this Friday has been rescheduled for Wed. Feb 17th at 4:30 p.m. It's going to be a long week of games coming up, but I'm sure everyone is ready for it!! :)

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Marist & Siena Trip

What a weekend!!!!!! Good , bad and UGLY..

Friday night was a crazy setting!!! The top 2 teams in the MAAC....Great rivals!! A showdown for FIRST place in a SOLD OUT environment. It really doesn't get any better than that. Another great reason to be a LADY GAEL!!!

We started off fast, taking a 7-3 lead, to somewhat quiet down the crowd. Unfortunately, Marist got super hot from 3 point range and took the lead from us. We battled hard all night but just couldn't dig out of the early hole. We ended up losing by a score of 10.

We then boarded a bus and headed up to Albany, NY to play Siena. We had a great practice on Saturday (putting the loss behind us) and on Sunday we came out on FIRE!! We led 25-9 and really controlled the whole first half.

Unfortunately, we were reminded of a great lesson...Basketball games are 2 halves!! Siena came out shooting and made 8 of 9 three point attempts and tied the game right at the end. We went to overtime and lost right at the end. It was very disappointing. As well as we played in the first half, we played that bad in the second half.

I know we learned a great lesson and this will only make us stronger for the last 6 regular season games and our MAAC tournament playoffs!!

We are still in second place at 9-3...one game behind first place Marist.
We have 3 home games left...Hope to see you there!!

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Rider & Fairfield Highlights

Check out all the great plays from last week's games!

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Another Good Set of Games

These last two games (at Rider and home against Fairfield) were crucial wins going into the second half of conference play. Our 85-60 win over Rider set a new school record for consecutive regular season MAAC wins, as well as most consecutive overall wins (8 game win streak). The 75-63 win over Fairfield extended that record to 9 wins in a row.

From the opening basket of the Rider game, we led the way and never looked back. Anna led with 16 points, 8 rebounds and 2 blocks. Cat had 12 points (4-of-5 from three point range) while Kristina, Anda & Z each had 10 points. We were also extremely happy with Marissa's career-high 8 assists! Our bench played a very important role in this game, as every single player played in the game...they contributed 35 points! It was a great team victory.

Our MSG TV game against Fairfield on Monday was a great atmosphere to play in. Cameras, screaming fans and great competition made it exciting to be a part of! Z played extremely well with a career-high 25 points and 13 rebounds (her 3rd double-double of the year). Kristina also had a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Our point guard, Suzi, showed what she's capable of with 14 points, 5 assists and 3 steals. Anda also scored in double digits with 12 points and adding 2 steals.

Our win against Fairfield put us tied for 1st place (with Marist) in the MAAC. We play Marist this Friday in Poughkeepsie, NY in front of a sold-out crowd. It's going to be another great Iona-Marist competitive game and we are excited to get it started. We'll also be playing Siena on Sunday, which will also be a very competitive game...can't overlook anyone at any point!

Another highlight video from the last 2 games will be up soon...be sure to check it out!

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Manhattan & Niagara Game Highlights

For those of you who didn't get a chance to see one or both of our games this past weekend, here are a few of the highlights...Enjoy!

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Diana Hubbard Named MAAC Rookie of the Week

We are very excited that our freshman, Diana Hubbard, was recognized for her performance in our games against Manhattan and Niagara this past weekend. She has earned the award by averaging 7.5 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 steal in the last 2 games.

She netted six points against Manhattan, hitting 2-of-3 from three-point range. In a close first half vs. the Jaspers, it was Diana's trifecta with 3:42 on the clock that put us ahead for good in the contest. Against Niagara, the first-year guard added nine points and four boards with an assist and a steal. Diana is averaging 7.4 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game in conference play.

We hope she can continue to play well and keep bringing that extra spark in our next set of games...at Rider this Friday, Jan 29th and home against Fairfield on Monday, Feb 1st.

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Thazina Cook Named MAAC Player of the Week

Sorry for the late update, but we wanted to be sure all of our blog fans were aware that our senior co-captain, Thazina Cook, was named MAAC Player of the Week for her performance against Niagara, Siena & St. Peter's (Jan 11-18).

This is the second such award for Z in her career, and the first weekly award for our team this season. Z averaged 19.3 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 steals per game in our three wins this past week. She extended her double digit scoring streak to seven straight games with a career-high 24 points against Saint Peter's after posting 15 at Niagara and 19 against Siena.

We finish out our 4 game home game streak this weekend with Manhattan tomorrow and Niagara on Sunday. See you all there!