[Originally published: Feb. 11, 2016 in The Ionian]

For Iona College women’s basketball senior forward Joy Adams, collecting rebounds is a skill that she has mastered in her four years in New Rochelle.

She became the program’s all-time leading rebounder Feb. 1 in the Gaels’ 79-76 overtime win at Canisius. Adams had 1,485 career boards as of press time. The previous record was held by Linda McKetney ’80, who amassed 1,430 rebounds.

Adams tallied 14 rebounds and 22 points in the game at Canisius. Junior guard Marina Lizarazu scored a game-high 23 points, which included Iona’s final seven points of the contest. She also knocked in the game-tying basket with 16.8 seconds remaining in regulation to send the game to overtime. This bucket ended the Golden Griffins’ 12-0 run.

Senior center Karynda DuPree collected her first career double-double with 11 points and a career-best 12 rebounds.

“[Karynda’s] had such huge development,” head coach Billi Godsey said. “Hopefully this is something she can gain confidence from and continue to grow from.”

Sophomore guard Philecia Gilmore narrowly missed a double-double of her own, recording 14 points and nine rebounds.

The Maroon & Gold (16-9 overall, 12-2 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference) defeated Niagara 73-52 two days earlier to begin their western New York trip. After leading by five at halftime, the Gaels outscored the Purple Eagles 23-10 in the third quarter. Iona owned the glass, holding a 43-30 rebounding advantage.

All five starters scored in double figures. Lizarazu led the way with 15 points. Adams posted 14 points and 13 rebounds. DuPree netted 12 points. Gilmore and senior guard Aaliyah Robinson each knocked in 10 points.

“It’s really special for us [to have five starters in double figures],” Godsey said. “We’ve talked about it all year about having to find ways to score and having to make sure that we move the ball offensively to be really good.”

The Gaels returned home for an 11 a.m. showdown with the Monmouth Hawks Feb. 5. The Maroon & Gold prevailed 68-56. Trailing by 10 midway through the third quarter, Iona reeled off a 21-4 run to seize the lead.

The Gaels, who lead the conference in average rebounding margin at +3.0, dominated the glass with a 51-35 rebounding edge. Iona collected 25 offensive rebounds, compared to nine for Monmouth.

Adams compiled 13 points, 24 rebounds and a career-high eight assists. Freshman guard Alexis Lewis notched a game-high 18 points. Lizarazu chipped in 14 points. DuPree was also in double figures with 10.

Iona won its sixth straight game with a 67-48 victory at Rider Feb. 7. This game marked the sixth time this season that the Gaels held their opponents below 50 points. The Maroon & Gold led 20-5 at the end of the first quarter after limiting the Broncs to 14 percent shooting.

“It’s important for us to make sure that we take care of the defensive end,” Godsey said. “To shut people down, to hold them, to be able to keep them from scoring a ton of points helps us with our confidence and helps us really understand that we are a defensive team, and that leads to our offense.”

Adams registered a second straight game with 20 or more rebounds, tallying 20 rebounds to go along with 12 points. Lizarazu paced the Gaels with 18 points and six assists. Lewis was also in double figures with 10 points.

Iona was scheduled to play at Siena Feb. 10. The result of the game was not available at press time.

The Gaels, who sit in first place in the MAAC standings, are set to visit Quinnipiac, the defending MAAC champion, Feb. 12 before concluding the regular season with a four-game homestand. Iona is slated to host Siena Feb. 19, Saint Peter’s Feb. 21, Fairfield Feb. 24 and Quinnipiac Feb. 28.

The MAAC Championship is scheduled to be from March 3-7 at the Times Union Center in Albany, N.Y.

http://www.ioniannews.com/sports/article_f7fa6ec4-d1e4-11e5-b411-af186380d834.html