ALBANY, N.Y. (Interstat) — Isabellah Middleton scored 20 points to lead Iona to a 61-52 victory over Siena in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference women’s basketball game Thursday night at Times Union Center.

The Gaels (17-10) overcame an early five-point deficit after the first quarter by holding the Saints (11-15) to 11 points in the second period, taking a 29-30 halftime lead. Iona maintained control throughout the second half.

Siena’s Kaiya Rain Tucker scored 16 points. Zoey Ward added 16 points for Iona, and Ella Fajardo scored 13. The Saints were projected as strong favorites pregame but shot poorly from the floor. Attendance was 484.