Box Score NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. – Iona defeated Saint Peter's 77-43 in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) women's basketball contest on Sunday afternoon.
Sajanna Bethea (Levittown, Pa. / Pennsbury) paced the Peacocks (1-13, 1-4 MAAC) with 12 points, six rebounds and three assists. Talah Hughes (Beacon, N.Y. / Beacon) recorded a new career-high of 12 points, while Antonia Smith (Bronx, N.Y. / Dwight School) tallied eight points in the losing effort.
Marina Lizarazu paced the Gaels (8-7, 5-1 MAAC) with 13 points and eight assists. Damika Martinez finished with 14 points, four rebounds and four assists while Aaliyah Robinson tallied 13 points.
Iona got things going early in the first half behind strong 3-point shooting to defeat the Peacocks and earn its fifth conference victory of the season.
The Gaels opened up the game with five straight points to take the lead. The Peacocks got on the board at the 18:34 mark with a field goal from Rebecca Sparks (Teaneck, N.J. / Teaneck [Saint Francis]). Iona answered with consecutive layups to open up an 11-2 advantage.
Following a pair of free throws form Bethea, the Gaels scored six straight to extend their lead. The Peacocks cut into the margin with a layup form Hughes at 12:37 to trail 17-6.
The Gaels held the Peacocks to 4-of-30 shooting from the field in the first half to take a 39-14 lead into halftime.
In the second half, the Peacocks got it going offensively, doubling the amount of points scored in the previous stanza. Iona was hot from behind the arc in the half, hitting 6-of-9 3-point field goals.
Hala Mostafa (Cairo, Egypt / Modern Narmer Language School) finished with seven points, six rebounds and two assists. Neechelle Ingram (Pocono Summit, Pa. / Pocono Mountain East) and Teresa Corchado (Willingboro, N.J. / Camden Catholic) collected five rebounds apiece.
Saint Peter's returns to action on Jan. 13, when they return to the Yanitelli Center to wrap up non-conference play against Yale. Game time is slated for 7 p.m.
