Women's Basketball Earns First Win on Tuesday Night

Written by Joshua Soto (SJC-LI Sports Information)

Brooklyn, NY| Behind a 23-point, 14-rebound effort from Andrea Iavarone, the St. Joseph's College (L.I.) women's basketball team earned its first victory of the season, grinding out a 72-67 win at Medgar Evers on Tuesday night.  With the win, the Golden Eagles are now 1-1 on the season as the Cougars fall to a 0-1 start on the year.

Iavorne earned her seventh career double-double, and has scored in double digits in eight consecutive games dating back to last season.

The two teams traded baskets for much of the first quarter, with neither team taking more than a two-possession lead in the first period. The Cougars were able to spark an 8-0 run with four minutes to play, as Nia Tompkins tied the game up, 14-14, hitting back-to-back 3-pointers before Medgar eventually took its first lead of the night on a Danyelle Foster layup.  The Golden Eagles concluded the quarter with a 6-0 run to take a 20-16 lead.

The two teams got off to a slow start in the second quarter as Asia Rountree scored the first basket in the eighth minute. Medgar continued to chip away at the lead and built its largest lead of the night, 35-30, with a basket by Tompkins.  SJC would enter halftime with a 36-35 lead courtesy of a 6-0 run.

The Cougars recaptured the lead, 43-38, with an 8-2 run to start of the third quarter. SJC quickly answered back to regain the lead with a 14-5 run to cap off the third quarter 52-48. Iavarone scored 10 points in the quarter for the Golden Eagles out of the 16.

The two teams continued to exchange baskets as Medgar cut its deficit by three with six minutes to play in the game.  A Zizzo three-pointer gave the Golden Eagles a 64-54 lead with four minutes remaining.  The Cougars came within four points, but SJC pulled away with the lead as they took an 11 point lead with under a minute to play, and St. Joseph's would close off the game with a 72-67 victory.

In addition to Iavarone's strong play, the Golden Eagles also got double-digit outputs from Zizzo and Rynese Smith, who scored 13 and 10, respectively.  Rountree recorded her first career double-double, chipping in with 14 points and 12 rebounds.

The Golden Eagles will next head to Manhattan for the Hunter College Women's Basketball Tip-Off Tournament, taking on Claremont-Script Mudd in the opening game at 5:00 PM on Friday November 20.