NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. (Interstat) — Isabellah Middleton scored 24 points to lead Iona to a 77-49 victory over Niagara in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference women’s basketball game Thursday afternoon at Gallagher Center. The Gaels (9-6) seized control with a 19-5 second-quarter advantage, building a 36-18 halftime lead. The Purple Eagles (0-14) shot just 24 percent from the floor. Middleton added nine rebounds for Iona. Talia Dial led Niagara with 14 points. Iona dominated inside, outscoring Niagara 44-18 in the paint. The Gaels’ defense held the Purple Eagles to single-digit scoring in the second and third quarters. Attendance was 1,123.

SANBORN, N.Y. (Interstat) — The Iona Gaels used a dominant defensive performance and a game-high 24 points from Isabellah Middleton to cruise past the winless Niagara Purple Eagles 77-49 in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference women’s basketball game Thursday afternoon at Gallagher Center. Iona improved to 9-6 overall and evened its conference record, while Niagara dropped to 0-14 on the season. The game was effectively decided in a disastrous first half for the home team. After a competitive opening few minutes, the Purple Eagles’ offense completely stalled. Niagara managed just five points in the entire second quarter, shooting a frigid 2-for-15 from the field in the period and committing six turnovers. The Gaels capitalized, closing the half on a 17-2 run over the final 6:34 to take a commanding 36-18 lead into the break. The most important stretch of the game was that second-quarter lockdown. Iona’s defense smothered Niagara, forcing difficult shots and converting turnovers into easy baskets. The Purple Eagles went nearly seven minutes without a field goal during the run, their only points coming from a pair of Chasity Wilson free throws. Meanwhile, Middleton and backcourt mate Ale Civera orchestrated the Iona offense, combining for 11 points in the quarter as the lead ballooned. Niagara never threatened in the second half, as Iona maintained at least a 20-point advantage throughout the final 20 minutes. The Gaels’ lead peaked at 31 points in the fourth quarter before both teams emptied their benches. Middleton, a guard from Leesburg, Virginia, was the catalyst for Iona. She filled the stat sheet with 24 points, nine rebounds, three assists and two steals in 28 minutes of action. She efficiently attacked the basket, scoring 10 of her points at the free-throw line on 12 attempts. Her performance came after a 37-minute, 17-point effort in a loss to Siena earlier in the week. Zoey Ward added 11 points and six rebounds for the Gaels, while Ella Fajardo contributed nine points. Civera, from Madrid, Spain, chipped in eight points and five rebounds. Niagara was led by Talia Dial’s 14 points, though she needed 17 shots to reach that total. Jade Rutledge added seven points, three assists and two blocks. The Purple Eagles struggled mightily from the field all afternoon, finishing 13 for 54, a rate of 24.1%. They were only marginally better from three-point range, hitting 4 of 17. Iona’s offense was not particularly efficient, shooting 44.8% from the field and 21.7% from deep, but it was more than enough given their defensive effort. The Gaels dominated inside, outscoring Niagara 44-18 in the paint and grabbing 15 offensive rebounds that led to 13 second-chance points. They also converted 19 Niagara turnovers into 24 points. The Purple Eagles, who have lost their games by an average of 30.5 points this season, continued to search for their first victory. They have not scored more than 72 points in any game this year and have been held under 55 points nine times. Iona looks to build momentum when it travels to face Canisius on Saturday. Niagara will try to break into the win column at home against Manhattan on Saturday. The announced attendance at the Gallagher Center was 1,123.

Iona Seeks Road Win Against Struggling Niagara in MAAC Matchup SANBORN, N.Y. (Interstat) — The Iona Gaels visit the Niagara Purple Eagles in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference women’s basketball game on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026, at Gallagher Center. Iona (8-6) looks to rebound from a 94-80 home loss to Siena last Saturday and solidify its position in the conference standings. The Gaels have shown inconsistency, alternating wins and losses in their last six games. Niagara (0-13) remains in search of its first victory of the season, coming off a 98-42 road defeat at Fairfield. The game features two of the league’s top individual scorers. Iona guard Mya Zaccagnini is averaging 16.1 points per game and is coming off a career-high 34-point performance against Siena. She has scored in double figures in five of her last seven contests. For Niagara, guard Talia Dial has been a consistent bright spot, averaging 17.8 points per game. She has scored 15 or more points in five consecutive games, including a 20-point effort against Saint Peter’s on Dec. 21. The Purple Eagles’ winless start has been marked by defensive struggles, allowing an average of 84.2 points per game. Their offense, led by Dial, will face an Iona defense that allows 66.1 points per contest. Iona’s offense runs through Zaccagnini and Isabellah Middleton, who contributed 17 points and five assists against Siena. The Gaels will aim for better ball security after committing 18 turnovers in that loss. Niagara, which has not played a game closer than 15 points since Nov. 26, will rely on home-court advantage at the 2,400-seat Gallagher Center to try to spark a turnaround. Jade Campbell leads the team in rebounding, pulling down nine boards in the loss to Fairfield. This is the first of two scheduled meetings between the programs this MAAC season. Following this contest, Iona travels to face Canisius on Saturday. Niagara continues its homestand against Manhattan on Saturday. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST.