Falcons top Iona to win Tip-Off Tournament

11/10/2013

NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. — Jillian Halfhill’s layup with 16.8 seconds left lifted the Bowling Green State University women’s basketball team to a 51-50 victory Saturday over Iona.

The win gave the Falcons (2-0) the title of the Iona Tip-Off Tournament.

Alexis Rogers topped BG with 15 points and added a game-high 11 rebounds. Halfhill finished with 10 points.

Damika Martinez scored 25 points to lead Iona (1-1), while Aaliyah Robinson added 14.

Neither team led by more than four points in the first 14 minutes before the Falcons used an 11-4 finish to take a 30-23 lead at the break.

BG held the lead through most of the second half before Martinez capped a seven-point run by the Gaels by nailing a jumper with 1:22 left to give Iona a 48-47 lead.

Rogers responded with a layup with 56 second to play to put the Falcons back on top, but Martinez hit another jumper with 36 seconds left for the last of her 14 second-half points, setting the stage for Halfhill’s game-winning basket.

The Falcons made 38 percent (21 of 55) from the floor to Iona’s 38 percent (20 of 52). BG made 8 of 15 free throws to Gales’ 8 of 17.

NOTES: Guard Katrina Salinas suffered a knee injury in practice Wednesday. The senior will not return this season. ... The Falcons will play at home at 6 p.m. Friday against Niagara.