NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. (Interstat) — Isabellah Middleton scored 14 points and Iona used a decisive third-quarter run to pull away from Rider for a 72-53 victory in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference women’s basketball game Monday afternoon at Hynes Center.

The Gaels (8-4, 1-0 MAAC) outscored the Broncs 20-12 in the pivotal third period, turning a nine-point halftime lead into a comfortable 17-point advantage entering the final quarter. Iona’s offensive efficiency, particularly from beyond the arc, proved too much for a struggling Rider squad to overcome.

Iona connected on 11 of 24 three-point attempts, a 45.8% clip, while Rider managed just 2 of 20 from deep. The Gaels’ offensive rating of 99.0 on 73 possessions starkly contrasted with the Broncs’ rating of 77.9 on 68 possessions, underscoring the disparity in offensive execution.

Middleton, a guard from Leesburg, Virginia, added three rebounds, two assists and a block in 24 minutes. Her backcourt mate, Mya Zaccagnini of Waterbury, Connecticut, contributed 10 points and four assists. The Gaels’ international contingent made key contributions, with Yannie Chan of Hong Kong scoring eight points and grabbing five rebounds in just 13 minutes, and Ale Civera of Madrid, Spain, adding eight points and five rebounds.

For Rider (2-10, 0-1), Aliya McIver of White Plains, New York, led the way with 12 points, nine rebounds and four assists in 35 minutes. Emmy Roach of Littlehampton, Australia, pulled down nine rebounds to go with seven points. Deb Okechukwu of Washington, D.C., was the only other Bronc in double figures with 11 points.

The game’s most critical sequence began late in the second quarter and extended through the third. Leading 33-24 at halftime, Iona opened the second half with a 13-6 surge over the first five minutes. The run was fueled by interior scoring from Middleton and Zoey Ward, coupled with defensive stops that limited Rider to one-shot possessions. A three-pointer from Civera at the 5:15 mark of the third pushed the lead to 41-30, and the Gaels never allowed the margin to dip below double digits again.

Rider, which has now lost eight of its last nine games, struggled with consistency on offense throughout. Despite winning the battle in the paint 36-28 and matching Iona with 12 points off turnovers, the Broncs’ 33.9% shooting from the field and 10.0% shooting from three-point range stifled any sustained comeback attempts.

Iona, which improved to 5-1 at home this season, also benefited from balanced scoring and ball movement, with eight different players recording at least one assist. Claudia Fiel of Pontevedra, Spain, filled the stat sheet with six points, five rebounds and three assists.

The game drew an attendance of 675 to the Hynes Center. Iona entered as a heavy favorite according to advanced metrics, with Interstat’s ELO system giving the Gaels an 81.40 percent probability to win.

Iona will look to build on its conference-opening win when it travels to face Quinnipiac on Thursday. Rider, still seeking its first MAAC victory, returns home to host Merrimack on New Year’s Day.