EMMITSBURG, Md. (February 18, 2023) – Saturday's contest between Mount St. Mary's women's basketball and Iona was a defensive battle, with a total of 87 combined points. The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference leading Gaels took the contest 50-37.
Michaela Harrison finished with 13 points to lead the Mountaineers and
Isabella Hunt led with nine rebounds.
Jessica Tomasetti put together 12 points on a 5-for-9 shooting day with six rebounds and two steals.
On defense,
Jaedyn Jamison and
Natalie Villaflor did formidable jobs holding the Gaels at bay. Jamison played a career-high 19 minutes, securing three rebounds, an assist, and a steal. When the redshirt freshman was on the floor, the Mount had a margin of +8. Villaflor and several other members of the team limited scoring threat Kate Mager without a point.
Iona received a game-high 14 points from Juana Camilion and a double-double of 12 points and 11 rebounds from Ketsia Athias. The Gaels escape Emmitsburg with their 14
th win in a row.
Offensive woes carried from the previous game into the first half Saturday, as the Mount matched their lowest point total going into halftime this season. A positive spark was Taylor, who registered the team's first seven of the game. Stuck on four points for several minutes, Taylor hit a three to stop a 10-0 Gaels run and kickstart a 5-0 Mount swing. Defense managed to hold off Iona from running away with the contest as the Gaels went to the locker room holding a 23-13 advantage.
Hunt got the second half started on a high note with a tip-in layup, but that momentum faced an immediate reversal on a 7-0 Gaels run. The teams traded points back-and-fourth, resulting in the contest staying at 10 points entering the fourth. Iona took charge with the first five points, in effect putting the game out of reach.
A few late baskets, with Tomasetti and Harrison leading the way, helped avoid a more infamous final score. Instead the Mount had its lowest point total since an 85-34 to Old Dominion in 2019. The shooting percentage of 24.1 is also the lowest number of the season.
The Mount falls to 10-15 (6-10 MAAC) while Iona improves to 20-5 (15-1 MAAC).
Mount St. Mary's hits the road Thursday (Feb. 23) to face Rider. The 11 a.m. game will be televised on ESPNU.
