ALBANY, N.Y. (Interstat) — In a gritty, defensive-minded Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference clash on Thursday night, the Iona Gaels avenged an earlier loss by grinding out a 61-52 victory over the Siena Saints at Times Union Center.

The game, played before an intimate crowd of 484, was defined by a decisive second-quarter shift. Siena, fueled by an aggressive start from Kaiya Rain Tucker and Caydence Hadley, controlled the opening period and led 19-14 after one quarter. The Saints’ early offense, however, would not last.

Iona’s defense stiffened dramatically in the second frame, holding Siena to just 11 points on a series of missed shots and forced turnovers. Simultaneously, the Gaels’ offense found a rhythm behind the duo of Isabellah Middleton and Zoey Ward. A key 9-0 run, featuring a 3-pointer from Ward and a driving layup and free throw from Middleton, erased the deficit and gave Iona a lead it would never relinquish. The Gaels outscored the Saints 15-11 in the quarter to take a 29-30 edge into halftime, a margin built entirely on their second-period resilience.

The third quarter saw both teams trade blows in a low-scoring affair, with Siena’s Tucker and Genevive Wedemeyer connecting to keep the Saints within striking distance. Iona maintained its slim advantage, leading 42-41 heading into the final period, setting the stage for a tense finish.

The most critical sequence of the game unfolded early in the fourth quarter with Iona clinging to a narrow lead. After a Siena free throw cut the lead to one, the Gaels delivered a knockout punch. Isabellah Middleton sank a crucial 3-pointer, and on the ensuing possession, Claudia Fiel converted a floating jump shot while being fouled. Though she missed the subsequent free throw, the five-point burst pushed Iona’s lead to 49-44 with 7:27 remaining.

Siena never recovered from that surge. The Saints’ offense, stagnant for much of the second half, managed only one field goal over the next five minutes. Iona methodically extended its lead at the free-throw line, with Middleton, Ward, and Ella Fajardo all converting chances in the bonus. A late layup from Johanna Flores with 1:13 left sealed the outcome, giving Iona its largest lead of the night at nine points and effectively ending the contest.

Isabellah Middleton was the central figure for Iona, playing a game-high 40 minutes and scoring a game-high 20 points. She added 5 rebounds, an assist, and a block, providing steady leadership throughout. Zoey Ward complemented her with 16 points and 5 rebounds, while Ella Fajardo added 13 points. For Siena, Kaiya Rain Tucker led the way with 16 points, 4 assists, and 4 blocks, but struggled with her efficiency down the stretch. Alden Yergey facilitated the offense with 6 points and 4 assists.

The victory improved Iona’s season record to 17-10 and 12-7 in the MAAC, while Siena fell to 11-15 and 8-11. The result flipped the script from the teams’ previous meeting on Jan. 3, when Siena scored a 94-80 win. According to Interstat’s ELO system, Siena had entered the game with a 71.8 percent probability to win.

Iona’s ability to lock down defensively after the first quarter, particularly in holding Siena to 10 points in the fourth, proved to be the difference. The Gaels’ key fourth-quarter run, sparked by Middleton’s 3-pointer, provided the necessary separation in a game where offensive execution was at a premium for both sides. Iona next travels to face Saint Peter’s on Saturday, while Siena remains at home to host Fairfield.