STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – The Wagner College women's basketball team dropped its non-conference matchup with MAAC member Iona by a score of 63-57 on Monday night at the Spiro Sports Center.
The Gaels (3-2, 0-0 MAAC) led only by two, 12-10, after the first quarter of play. The Seahawks (1-5, 0-0 NEC) found balanced scoring during the opening frame, with five different players scoring two points.
Iona extended its lead to as much as 12 heading into halftime, the Gaels outscored the Seahawks in the second quarter, 17-7. At the half, Iona held a 29-17 lead over Wagner.
The Seahawks were led by senior Irene Fernandez de Caleya who scored five points in the first half, sophomore Keana Foz, junior Lijirin Doyinsola Modesayor, redshirt senior Priscila Varela, senior Maria Doreste,
In the first half, Iona shot 9-25 (36%) from the floor while Wagner shot 6-26 (23.1%) during the same span.
In the third, Fernandez once again led the Seahawks in points with four while shooting 2-2 from the field and grabbing a team-high three rebounds. Wagner held a 10-8 advantage in points in the paint, but Iona extended its lead, 49-33.
The Seahawks dominated the paint in the fourth quarter of play, outsourcing the Gaels 10-0 in the category.
Foz led the comeback attempt with seven points, two rebounds, and two assists while junior Lijirin Doyinsola Modesayor chipped in four points during the period.
The Seahawks clawed their way back to make it a four point game with under one minute left, after trailing by as many as 19 late in the third. Wagner shot 8-16 (50%) from the floor in the fourth while Iona shot 1-8 (12.5%) and had nine turnovers.
In the end, Iona prevailed by a score of 63-57, after a 24-14 fourth quarter in favor of Wagner.
In the second half, Wagner shot 14-30 (46.7%) from the floor and 3-7 (42.9%) from beyond-the-arc.
Fernandez de Caleya recorded team and season-highs in points and rebound, scoring 12 points while adding eight rebounds. Foz followed with 11 points, five rebounds, four assists, and two steals. Modesayor and senior Raneem Elbarky chipped in eight points each.
Next up, Wagner welcomes Ivy League member Cornell to the Spiro Sports Center for a 2:00 p.m. tip-off on Sunday, November 30 to conclude the Seahawks three-game homestand.
