EMMITSBURG, Md. (February 6, 2025) – With four minutes and change left, Mount St. Mary's women's basketball was up seven and poised to take their eighth win in a row. But the Iona Gaels pieced together a comeback, enabling Zoey Ward to hit a game-winning layup in a 62-60 final.
The decision puts the Mountaineers at 10-11 overall and 8-4 in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC).
Jo Raflo helped carry the freight for a shorthanded roster dealing with injuries and illness. The senior had 21 points and seven rebounds, both team highs.
Rosa Revueltas Pareja tied a season high with nine points.
Tessa Engelman set two new career highs with five assists and five blocks. Her rejection total is the most in a game for any Mountaineer player since Rebecca Lee had five during a game against Kentucky in November 2019.
A pair of Iona players – Judith Gomez and Erin Leary – finished the game with double-doubles. The win gives the Gaels a 9-13 mark with a 7-5 MAAC record.
The Mount won the first quarter with a three-pointer from Raflo as the final seconds ticked off. But uncharacteristic of the team, that was the lone triple they hit in the opening half. Iona began the second quarter with a 9-0 run before the visitors made a climb back into the contest, trailing 26-24 at the break.
A late third quarter charge allowed the Mount to take the lead again with Pareja securing a driving layup to go up 38-36. They would go up as much as four before Iona responded to go up four themselves. Mount countered with an 11-0 run capped by a layup from
Madison Ruff. From there, Iona forced a couple of turnovers to flip the momentum. Raflo was fouled on a possible game winner and managed to tie the game at 60. A Gaels timeout set up an inbound to Ward who beat the Mount's defender to polish off the contest.
On the bye this Saturday, Mount St. Mary's returns home Thursday, February 13 to face Niagara.
