ATLANTIC CITY, NJ (Mar. 11, 2023) – The Iona University Gaels have claimed the 2023 Hercules Tires Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Women’s Basketball Championship title on Saturday afternoon at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, NJ. The top-seeded Gaels defeated their New York City rival No. 6 Manhattan College, 73-60, leading to the program’s second MAAC Championship crown.
 
No. 1 Iona – 73 | No. 6 Manhattan – 60
Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall | ATLANTIC CITY, NJ
Box Score (XML)
Box Score (PDF)
 
No. 1 Iona won its program’s second MAAC Championship by way of a 73-60 second half thumping of No. 6 Manhattan on Saturday. No side gained any advantage in the first half, which featured seven lead changes and four ties, with the largest lead for both sides being four points. The Gaels led for 8:50 while the Jaspers led for 7:56 during the first 20 minutes of action, which ended with Iona leading 27-25 at the half. The difference in the contest was the third quarter, where Iona completely dominated. In that frame, the Gaels outscored the Jaspers 30-13, putting together a 12-0 run midway through from the 8:07 mark to the 5:17 mark. Iona nearly shot a perfect quarter, going 12-for-14 (85.7%) from the field and 6-of-8 (75%) from three. Heading into the final stanza, the Gaels led by 19, holding a 57-38 advantage. Manhattan would make a push at a comeback in the fourth quarter, cutting a 20-point deficit to as close as 13 points, but that would be the closest they would get on the day. With the win, the Gaels have won 20 out of its last 21 games, which included 16 straight wins from Dec. 31 through Feb. 25. MAAC Player and Defensive Player of the Year, Juana Camilion, scored a game-high 24 points, earning Championship Most Valuable Player honors. Kate Mager finished with 17 points in the win, while Ketsia Athias recorded the second triple-double in MAAC postseason history, posting 11 points, 11 assists, and 10 rebounds. For the Jaspers, four players were in double-digits, led by 12 points from Brazil Harvey-Carr, 11 points by Dee Dee Davis, and 10 points apiece from Helena Galunic and Bella Nascimento.
 
Joining Camilion with All-Championship honors were her teammates Athias and Mager. Also earning All-Championship Team accolades were Harvey-Carr and Petra Juric from runner-up Manhattan, Aaliyah Parker of Niagara and Siena’s Anajah Brown.
 
Iona receives the MAAC’s automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament. The Gaels will learn their opponent when the 2023 NCAA DI Women's Basketball March Madness bracket is revealed during the Selection Show at 8pm on Sunday, March 12 on ESPN.
 
About the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference:
With 11 institutions strongly bound by the sound principles of quality and integrity in academics and excellence in athletics, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) is in its 42nd year of competition during the 2022-23 academic year. Current conference members include: Canisius College, Fairfield University, Iona University, Manhattan College, Marist College, Mount St. Mary’s University, Niagara University, Quinnipiac University, Rider University, Saint Peter’s University, and Siena College.
 
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