[Originally published: Jan. 28, 2016 in The Ionian]

After losing Damika Martinez, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference all-time leading scorer, to graduation, the Iona College women’s basketball team evolved from a team carried by its offense to a team whose success was fueled by its defense.

The Gaels ranked second out of 11 teams in the conference in points per game (69.0) and ninth in scoring defense (66.3) last season. This year, the Maroon & Gold rank second in scoring defense (58.0) and third in scoring offense (61.4).

The increased defensive intensity has powered Iona to a tie for first place in the MAAC (with Siena) with an 8-2 mark in conference play and an overall record of 12-9.

“We have to continue to make defense our point of pride and our commitment so we can find some easy buckets when we play,” head coach Billi Godsey said.

The Gaels have outscored their opponents by 12.5 points per game in conference play as all eight victories have come by double digits. The Maroon & Gold won each of their first six conference games.

One of the most significant victories in this stretch came at home against Marist Jan. 7. The Red Foxes have won 10 of the last 12 MAAC championships.

Iona prevailed 69-49, which marked the first time that the Gaels defeated the Red Foxes in New Rochelle since 2001. Iona had beaten Marist just once in the 33 games in the series prior to this win.

The Gaels started the game by knocking down eight of their first 10 shots. Iona led 38-27 at halftime and built its lead up to as much as 25 by limiting Marist to 23.8 percent shooting in the second half.

Senior forward Joy Adams corralled 24 rebounds, which marked the eighth time in her career that she reached the 20-rebound plateau. She scored a team-high 17 points to finish with a double-double.

Junior guard Marina Lizarazu also amassed a double-double with 10 points and 10 assists. Sophomore guard Philecia Gilmore tallied 15 points, and senior guard Aaliyah Robinson chipped in 14 points.

Iona registered a 79-56 win over Canisius in a wire-to-wire victory three days later. The Gaels led 23-8 at the end of the first quarter.

Freshman guard Alexis Lewis netted a game-high 17 points to go along with seven rebounds. Gilmore scored 15 points, and Adams put together a 10-point, 10-rebound performance.

The Gaels suffered their first MAAC loss in a 62-61 heartbreaker at Marist Jan. 15. The Red Foxes outscored the Maroon & Gold 20-5 in the third quarter to surge ahead after Iona led 44-35 at halftime.

The second half belonged to Marist as it forced 10 Iona turnovers in the third quarter. The Gaels missed eight of their final 10 shots in the game.

Adams led Iona with 21 points and 10 rebounds. She scored 16 points in the first quarter. Gilmore compiled 13 points.

“It’s really nice to see her get comfortable,” Godsey said about Gilmore. “She’s been through a lot in the past two years. She works extremely hard.”

Iona followed this loss with another defeat. The Gaels fell at Manhattan 63-56 Jan. 18. The Maroon & Gold led by nine points entering the fourth quarter before the Jaspers scored the first 10 points of the period.

Robinson scored 12 points, and Adams recorded 11 points.

The Gaels returned to their winning ways with a 73-46 rout of Niagara in New Rochelle Jan. 21. Iona opened the game on a 21-1 run and led 41-11 at halftime.

Lewis registered her first career double-double with 21 points and 10 rebounds. Robinson notched 16 points on four-of-seven shooting from 3-point land.

The Maroon & Gold followed this performance up with a 64-49 win at Monmouth Jan. 24.

Adams recorded a double-double with 20 points and 15 rebounds. Lizarazu compiled 13 points and nine assists. Gilmore also scored 13 points.

Iona is scheduled to travel to western New York to face Niagara Jan. 30 and Canisius Feb. 1. The Maroon & Gold’s next home game on the schedule is against Monmouth Feb. 5 at the Hynes Athletics Center at 11 a.m.

“Coach told us to have trust in each other, and that’s what we do,” Gilmore said. “Everyone’s committed to giving 100 percent.”

http://www.ioniannews.com/sports/article_d18b1b40-c5d6-11e5-b903-ffd611bc8960.html