It is safe to say that the Iona College women’s basketball team has had their ups and downs so far this season.

Freshman phenomenon Damika Martinez has been outstanding: she is a four time MAAC Rookie of the Week recipient, and leads the entire conference in points with a scoring average of 16.5 points a game. The Lady Gaels started out 6-2 in the conference and looked like a strong three seed in this year’s MAAC Championship tournament in Springfield, Massachusetts.

However, with the injury of senior Kristina Ford and bad play in the middle of the season, the Gaels have been struggling. They suffered a seven game losing streak, dropping four places in the conference and are currently in the seventh spot as they enter one of their last weeks of the season.

During the losing streak, the Gaels’ defense was their achilles heel, giving up an average of 72 points per game in that span. The team only has two conference games left in the regular season, against first place Marist in Poughkeepsie on Feb. 23 and last place Saint Peter’s on Feb. 26 on senior day at the Hynes Center. If they split the two games and go 1-1 in the next week and a half, Iona is looking at either a six or seven seed in the postseason tournament.

So what are the chances that the Lady Gaels make noise in Springfield in a few weeks? They have a very good chance, and here’s why.

Even though the team has struggled recently, they are starting to play more team oriented basketball and Ford has become more comfortable on the court since coming back from injury. Their 72-65 win against Loyola on Feb. 19 was their best team win of the season, with four different Gaels scoring in double figures. With point production like that, the ladies will be a tough matchup in March. Let’s take a look at where the Gaels would place if the season ended today.

Iona would be the 7th seed against last place Saint Peters on the opening day of the MAAC tournament. The Gaels took care of the Peahens already with a convincing 71-54 victory earlier in the season in Jersey City, NJ. I think the Gaels would be able to out-work them again to advance to the second round.

From there Iona would look to take on the No. 2 Fairfield the next day. Fairfield defeated the Gaels twice this season, with a 62-58 decision in Connecticut, and a 78-64 decision a few weeks ago at the Hynes Center. However, Fairfield has looked very vulnerable these past few weeks, losing to Loyola at home. On a neutral court, and with improved play by the Gaels, Iona will likely pull this one off in a five point game.

After the second round game, Iona would play the winner of No. 3 Manhattan, and No. 6 Niagara.

Most likely, Manhattan will beat the Purple Eagles, putting them up against Iona. Manhattan is notorious for playing a 1-3-1 zone defense to try to slow the other team down. Playing this Jasper team a third time, Iona will be able to crack the zone and shoot well, sending the Gaels to the MAAC championship game against first place Marist.

In the championship game against Marist, two big factors of the game will be: Can Iona rebound well? Can Iona get fast-break points? If the answer to either of these questions are no, Marist will win their seventh straight conference tournament. But, if Iona outworks the Red Foxes on the glass and out hustles them down the floor, Iona has a very good chance to cut down the nets March 5.