Riverdale, N.Y. (February 26, 2006)--Iona Women's Basketball used a late 12-1 run to distance themselves from the Lady Jaspers en route to a 74-64 Iona victory in a sold out Draddy Gym. Joann Nwafili, Gabrielle Cottrell, and Larie Dew all scored in double figures for Manhattan, but it was not enough as three Gaels matched that feat en route to the win.
All three of those Gaels scored during the 12-1 spurt which gave Iona control. After Manhattan senior guard Lupe Godinez knocked down a three-pointer to cut the Iona lead to 54-51 with 6:11 remaining in the game, Iona's Toni Horvath, who finished with 15 on the night, knocked down two free throws to begin the run. Senior guard Melissa Yeagley added a free throw of her own on Iona's next possession and then knocked down a three on the following possession. Junior Martina Weber , who finished with a game-high 19 points, also added four points during the run, which put Iona up 74-62.
Cottrell put in three of her 14 points to cut the Iona lead down to six with 1:10 remaining, but the Lady Jaspers could get no closer. Nwafili led the Lady J's with a team-high 16 points, and Dew added 11 points and a team-high six rebounds.
As a team Manhattan shot 45 percent from the field, but Iona topped that mark by shooting a stellar 56.4 percent.
With the loss, Manhattan finishes 7-11 in MAAC play. The Lady Jaspers own the sixth seed in the upcoming MAAC Tournament and will face Rider in the first round game on Thursday, March 2.