JERSEY CITY, N.J. (Interstat) — Zoey Ward recorded a dominant 29-point, 15-rebound double-double to power the Iona women’s basketball team to a 66-55 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference victory over Saint Peter’s on Saturday at Yanitelli Center. The Gaels, who avenged a home loss to the Peacocks from January, used a decisive 22-point second quarter to build a 31-24 halftime lead and never trailed again. Ward, a 6-foot guard from Gastonia, North Carolina, played 40 minutes and was the game’s standout performer. Jayshlynn Vega led Saint Peter’s with 18 points. Ella Fajardo added 11 points and six assists for Iona, which improved to 18-10 overall. De’Naya Rippey scored 16 for the Peacocks, who fell to 7-20. Attendance was 180.

JERSEY CITY, N.J. (Interstat) — Zoey Ward scored 29 points and grabbed 15 rebounds, powering Iona to a 66-55 victory over Saint Peter’s in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference women’s basketball game Saturday at Yanitelli Center. The Gaels, who avenged a home loss to the Peacocks from just over a month ago, used a decisive second-quarter surge to take control and never trailed in the final three periods. The win improved Iona to 18-10 overall, while Saint Peter’s fell to 7-20. The most important stretch of the game came in the second quarter, where Iona transformed a narrow 10-9 deficit after the first period into a commanding double-digit lead. The Gaels erupted for 22 points in the frame, outscoring the Peacocks by eight. Ward was instrumental, hitting a 3-pointer and a jump shot during the run, while Adrianna Gonzalez came off the bench to provide a spark with a driving layup and a 3-pointer of her own. The Iona defense tightened, limiting Saint Peter’s to 4-of-12 shooting from the floor in the quarter and forcing five turnovers. By halftime, the Gaels had built a 31-24 advantage, a lead they would not relinquish. Ward, a 6-foot guard from Gastonia, North Carolina, was dominant on both ends, playing 40 minutes and adding two assists to her massive double-double. She shot 11 of 24 from the field, including 4 of 9 from beyond the arc, and consistently stifled Saint Peter’s possessions with a game-high 12 defensive rebounds. Her performance marked a significant offensive resurgence after scoring a combined 26 points over her previous three games. Ella Fajardo of Bergenfield, New Jersey, facilitated the Iona offense with six assists to go with 11 points, and Isabellah Middleton added 10 points and four rebounds. Gonzalez contributed five points and five rebounds in 13 minutes off the bench. Saint Peter’s was led by Jayshlynn Vega, who scored 18 points in just 23 minutes. De’Naya Rippey added 16 points for the Peacocks, who struggled offensively throughout, shooting just 38.8% from the field and posting an offensive rating of 81.4 points per 100 possessions. Iona, while not exceptionally efficient with a 99.7 offensive rating, won the battle on the glass with a 38-29 rebounding edge, including nine offensive boards to Saint Peter’s four. The Peacocks made several pushes in the second half, closing to within seven points early in the fourth quarter after a 3-pointer from Vega made it 39-32. Each time, Ward answered for Iona. She immediately responded with a 3-pointer of her own on the ensuing possession to push the lead back to 10. Later, with the lead at 48-41, Ward drew a foul and made two free throws, then hit another crucial 3-pointer off an assist from Middleton to extend the advantage to 53-43 with just over five minutes remaining, effectively sealing the game. Saint Peter’s, which had nine steals and forced 15 Iona turnovers, could not overcome its own 15 giveaways and a cold shooting afternoon from deep, finishing 6 of 18 from 3-point range. Louella Allana had five rebounds and two assists for the Peacocks, while Carys Roy blocked three shots. The game was a stark contrast to the teams’ meeting on Jan. 19, when Saint Peter’s left New Rochelle with a 63-57 win. Iona’s defense was far more effective in the rematch, holding the Peacocks 19 points below their scoring output in that prior victory. A sparse crowd of 180 at the Yanitelli Center saw Iona methodically close out the game at the free-throw line in the final minute. The Gaels finished the game shooting 45.5% from the field and 42.1% from 3-point range. Iona returns home to host Manhattan on Thursday. Saint Peter’s will look to regroup when it hosts Marist on Thursday before traveling to face Manhattan on Saturday.

JERSEY CITY, N.J. (Interstat) — A surging Iona women’s basketball team looks to continue its push in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference standings when it visits struggling Saint Peter’s on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, at Yanitelli Center. The Gaels (17-10, 11-5 MAAC) enter on a three-game winning streak, most recently a 61-52 road victory at Siena on Thursday. In contrast, the host Peacocks (7-19, 5-11) are looking to rebound from a 62-30 loss at Fairfield that same night. Iona is led by standout guard Isabellah Middleton, who is averaging 18.4 points over her last five games. She scored 20 points in 40 minutes against Siena and posted a 20-point, 10-rebound double-double in a win over Niagara on Feb. 14. Her consistent production has been central to Iona’s late-season form. For Saint Peter’s, guard De’Naya Rippey provides the primary offensive threat. She scored 26 points and grabbed nine rebounds in a win over Rider on Jan. 24 and is coming off a 12-point effort in the loss to Fairfield. The Peacocks will need a major performance from her to challenge the Gaels. The teams met just over a month ago, with Saint Peter’s securing a 63-57 victory at Iona on Jan. 19. That result gives the Peacocks confidence but also provides clear motivation for the Gaels, who have won seven of their last nine since that defeat. Iona’s recent success has been built on defense, holding opponents to 52 points or fewer in three straight wins. Saint Peter’s, which has lost four of its last five, has struggled offensively, failing to reach 55 points in four of those contests. The matchup pits Iona’s conference-title aspirations against Saint Peter’s desire to play spoiler and build momentum before the MAAC tournament. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. EST at Yanitelli Center.