Mid Major Hoops

Iona Lady Gaels Win Again

Up as much as eighteen in the first half, the Iona Lady Gaels hung on in the second half to defeat Siena 73-66 up in Albany tonight.  With the win, Iona moves to 12-10 overall and 9-4 in the MAAC.  Iona is now tied for third with Loyola Maryland (though Loyola has the tiebreaker having swept the season series).  More importantly, Iona's lead over the fifth place teams, Siena, Manhattan and Fairfield all tied at 6-7 is now 3 games with 5 to play.  The top four teams in the MAAC get a first round bye (with the top team getting a first and second round bye).  The road win was even more impressive due to the fact that Iona played tonight without leading scorer Martina Weber due to injury.   Weather permitting, Iona is at home on Sunday hosting Niagara, the first of three consecutive home games for the Lady Gaels.

Update - Tiara Headen led the Gaels with a career high 24 points.  The Lady Gaels have tied a school record for MAAC conference wins with nine and the Gaels still have five games in conference remaining to break the record. 

Lady Gaels Take Sole Possession of Fourth in the MAAC

Coach Tony Bozzella's Iona Lady Gaels improved to 7-4 in the MAAC, 10-10 overall with a convincing 79-60 win over Fairfield this evening in New Rochelle.  With the win, Iona takes over sole possession of fourth place, an important spot, due to the fact that the top four teams at season's end earn a first round bye into the tournament.  Fairfield drops to 6-5, fifth overall.  Iona also gained the season sweep on the Stags, which gives the Lady Gaels the tiebreaker should both teams tie.  Iona has another home game this Sunday against St Peter's.  With a win, Iona would go back over .500 for the first since they were 2-1 to begin the year.

Update - Tiara Headen scored a career high 23 points for the Gaels.  Martina Weber had 15, all in the first half, Jessica Anger and Melissa Yeagley added 9 each and Regan Pettijohn had 7 for the Gaels.  Toni Horvath reached double figures in assists for the game with 10.  Iona shot 44.8 percent from the field, 44.4 percent from the three point arc and was 19 of 22 from the free throw line.  Iona held Fairfield to 36.7 shooting from the field and forced the Stags into 25 turnovers.

Iona Stuns Canisius on the Road - Lady Gaels Continue to Roll!!!

Coach Tony Bozzella's Iona Lady Gaels stunned the defending MAAC champion Canisius at Canisius, defeating the Golden Griffs 77-65.  Listening to the game on Canisius internet radio, the Griffs had no answer for the Lady Gaels inside as Martina Weber and Jessica Anger had their way in the paint.  More information on this game later!

Update - Tiara Headen led the Lady Gaels with 22 points.  Martina Weber, the second leading scorer in the MAAC added 15 points and nine rebounds.  Tony Horvath also had 14 for Iona.  Iona shot 47 percent from the field and shot 87.5 percent from the free throw line.  The Lady Gaels also outrebounded the Griffs 37-31.  The Lady Gaels look to make it six out of their last seven when they host Manhattan this Friday night (Jan 27).

Cross Posting - Lady Gaels Win Again

Coach Tony Bozzella's Lady Gaels won their fourth game in their last 5 games with a hard fought 67-61 win over Niagara.  The Lady Gaels were up early in the second half 38-30 but Niagara came back to take a 54-53 lead with 3:53 left before Iona outscored Niagara 14-7 the rest of the way for the victory.  Iona's only loss in their last five games was at home to Canisius, who will be their opponent on Sunday at Canisius. The Golden Griffins defeated Fairfield tonight 85-73.  Iona is now 4-3 in conference, 7-9 overall.  The Lady Gaels have more wins this year then they had all of last year and are currently tied for third in the conference with Fairfield and Loyola.  Canisius is second in the conference, one game behind undefeated Marist.

Update - Martina Weber led the Lady Gaels with her first career double double, 18 points and 15 rebounds.  Tiara Headen added 15 and Toni Horvath had 11 for the Lady Gaels.  The Gaels were ahead 46-34 before Niagara scored 14 straight unanswered points over a 6 minute period.  With the game tied up at 57 all, The Lady Gaels went on a 10-4 run to end the game including shooting 8 of 10 from the free throw line. The Lady Gaels outrebounded the Purple Eagles 43-37 and shot 70 percent, 17 of 24 from the free throw line.

Saturday Recap

This is my first post in about a week.  Its been crazy at work as we are overseeing 800 students taking finals on computer (I am a law school IT administrator).  This was my first real free day of the week so here's a look at what happened today.

My Iona Lady Gaels suffered another heartbreaking loss, its fifh in a row, a 79-78 home defeat to Sacred Heart. Iona was up 18 in the second half only to see Sacred Heart shoot 63 percent in the second half.  Nicole Rubino scored 27, including 19 in the second half for Sacred Heart.  Das Wunderkind Martina Weber had 19 and Jessica Anger had 17 for Iona.  Iona has lost its last 3 games by 2 points, 2 points in overtime and 1 point respectively.  Hopefully the team will keep its morale.  It is a much better team than 2-5.

In men's hoops, Texas suffered its second straight blowout defeat losing to undefeated but unranked Tennessee 95-78.  Chris Lofton and CJ Watson combined for 38 points for Tennessee.  PJ Tucker had 20 points and 11 rebounds for Texas.  Bruce Pearl, the former UW Milwaukee coach, has done an excellent job so far for the Volunteers in his first season.   Using his flex offense, Tennessee was up 48-28 at halftime and never looked back.

Other previously unranked teams weren't so lucky today...

#4 Louisville suffered its first loss, as #23 Kentucky crushed the Cardinals 73-61 at Rupp Arena.  Rajon Rondo led the Wildcats with a career high 25 points.   The Cardinals were held to 35 percent shooting from the floor.

#14 UCLA defeated previously undefeated Michigan 68-61 in Ann Arbor.  Jordan Farmar had 21 points for the Bruins.

In other Top 25 action, #5 Memphis walloped Mississippi 72-49 in Oxford.  #8 Oklahoma defeated Southern 68-54.  #10 Gonzaga got 25 points from Adam Morrison and used a second half comeback to defeat Virginia 80-69.  #15 George Washington easily handled Maryland Eastern Shore 98-72.  Princeton actually doubled its scoring output from its last game against Monmouth but still lost by 19 to #16 Wake Forest, 61-42.   #19 North Carolina avenged last year's loss to Santa Clara by beating them 76-58 in Chapel Hill.  #22 Iowa defeated Arizona State 62-43.  #24 Arizona humilitated Utah in Utah 73-43, and #25 Houston lost to Southern Mississippi 66-62.

In other NCAA men's games, Ohio State came from behind on the road and beat Iowa State 70-67.  Bucknell absolutely pasted Cornell 83-39 and in what had to be the wildest turnaround of the week, DePaul who had beaten #16 Wake Forest at Wake Forest earlier in the week went to Old Dominion and lost to the Monarchs 83-43.   Yes, that's correct.  DePaul lost by 40 points. 

Tomorrow will be a recap of CAA action from today.