GAELS DROP HEARTBREAKER IN INDIANA, 74-71
MAAC Sports
Bloomington, IN - Martina Weber scored a career high in what would be her final game in Maroon & Gold. Her 32 points were not enough against Indiana this evening. The Iona College women's basketball team (21-13) was defeated 74-71 by the Hoosiers (19-13) in the second round of the Women's National Invitation Tournament.
Tiara Headen chipped in 13 points and nine rebounds for the Gaels, while Hoosier Nikki Smith led her team with 18 points.
Weber started the scoring with a clean jumper 25 seconds into play. Headen followed up with a shot from beyond the arc to give Iona an early 5-1 lead.
Down by three at the 15:23 mark, Indiana senior Leah Enterline answered with a three of her own to tie the game. The home team took its first lead on a layup by Sarah McKay with 14:49 on the clock. The teams traded the advantage until the Gaels commanded control. Iona went up by as much as seven points on a Lauren DeFalco long shot with 10:10 to play in the first half.
Ahead by five with just three seconds left, Iona turned the ball over in front of the Indiana basket. Kim Roberson broke free on a steal and deposited a basket as the buzzer sounded to close the half at 34-31.
Despite out shooting their opponent, 58.3%-48.4% and hitting 8-of-9 free throws in the second half, the Gaels were unable to pull out a victory to keep their 2006-07 run alive. Smith knocked down a trifecta out of the gate to even the score. Iona surged back to a six-point lead at 16:23, but the Hoosiers chipped away and pulled ahead on a McKay layup three minutes later.
Behind by six with 3:31 to go, Iona battled hard and closed to with in one on a jumper by Weber with 18 seconds left. Forced to foul, Smith hit two from the line stretching the lead back to three. The Gaels were unable to convert on their final possession and was handed the three-point defeat at Assembly Hall.