Through their first three games, the Iona women’s basketball team has started their season winless. With losses to bigger name programs like Rutgers and Central Florida, it was expected that the Gaels would start off slower than most. But, with most of the season left to go, there’s a high chance that the team would heat up after that cold start. Unfortunately, that hasn’t seemed to have happened yet, as the Gaels went 2-5 over their next seven games. After their away game at Rutgers, the Gaels would return home for a two game homestand. On Nov. 20, the Gaels would host the College of Charleston. But, much like the

three games before it, it would be a loss for the Gaels, the final score being 41-77. However, the next game against Wagner on Nov. 26 would see a change. The Gaels would pick up their first win of the season in decisive fashion, beating the Seahawks 71-50.The star player in this game was forward Destinee Salgado, who had 20 points and 12 rebounds in just her fifth collegiate game. Ella Fajardo and Talia DePetrillo would also score in double figures for the Gaels. Next, the Gaels would travel up to Hamilton, New York to participate in the 2024 version of the Colgate Thanksgiving Weekend Tournament. While Iona would not play the host school, they would play the Akron Zips on Nov. 29 and the UMBC Retrievers on Nov. 30.

Both games would see the Gaels lose, and both in convincing fashion. The game against the Zips saw the Gaels lose, 51-64, while the game against UMBC saw the Gaels lose by a larger margin, this time the final score being 40-62. On Dec. 5, the Gaels then went on to host the Stetson Hatters. Much like their last home game against Wagner, the team would once again win in decisive fashion. This time, the final score was 58-46, and the team’s star player was Judith Gomez, who had 16 points for the team. The Gaels’ last game before winter break sees them playing the UMass Lowell Riverhawks on the road on Dec. 10. Then, over break, the team will play 

eight games. Seven of those games are Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference games, including their conference play opener against Sacred Heart on Dec. 19. They’ll also play St. Peter’s on Dec. 21, Marist on Jan. 2, Siena on Jan. 4, Fairfield on Jan. 9 and Quinnipiac on Jan. 11. In between all those games, the Gaels will finish up non-conference play with a game at Hofstra on Dec. 29.