EMMITSBURG, Md. (February 1, 2024) – Senior forward
Isabella Hunt tallied a career high in points as Mount St. Mary's women's basketball defeated Iona, 55-48, Thursday night at Knott Arena.
Hunt scored 16 on the night, adding a team high seven rebounds and three steals.
Jada Lee dished out seven assists, which also serves as a career best for the guard.
Jo Raflo had a game-high 18 points, and
Jessica Tomasetti pitched in 11.
The victory hit many positive marks in terms of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) standings. Mount is now 7-12 overall and 4-6 in league play, leaping over Marist in the standings for seventh place. They also gave themselves breathing room against the squads sitting ninth to 11
th, holding a two-game lead and a win over each team.
Iona's Sierra DeAngelo came within a board of a double-double with a 15 point, nine rebound night. Natalia Otkhmezuri chipped 12 points and six rebounds to the stats. The Gaels are now 7-12 (2-8 MAAC) this season.
The home side roared to a 10-0 start, scoring on their first four possessions. After the Gaels took a timeout to regroup, they began to work their way back into the game. Getting within seven after the first quarter, Iona continued to inch back in up to a 28-28 tie as the break neared. Raflo banked in a three with 19 seconds remaining to give the Mount a three-point halftime lead.
Bit by an early streak of bad luck, the Mountaineers saw several clean looks rattle out. This allowed the Gaels to keep pace to a force a Mount timeout up 35-34 with 4:08 left in the third quarter. Tomasetti and Lee found open space following the stoppage, and another Raflo three forced Iona to halt play. Entering the fourth quarter, the home side held a 42-38 lead. A 5-0 final frame run capped by a Tomasetti foul shot upped the advantage to eight, but the gritty Gaels pieced together another push to get back within one possession. Raflo supplied a critical three with 1:04 to go and Hunt delivered the dagger foul shot in the closing seconds.
Mount St. Mary's hits the road to take on Manhattan Saturday (Feb. 3). Tip-off is at 2 p.m. from Draddy Gymnasium.
