Berkowitz Records Double-Double In Win

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – With a mix of physical toughness and commitment to rebounding, the Yale women's basketball team got off to a good start in the 2015 Hall of Fame Women's Challenge with a 63-48 win over Iona on Friday night in Carmichael Arena.

The Bulldogs (2-1) begin the three-game, three-day tournament with a win, while picking up their second straight victory under Joel E. Smilow '54 head coach Allison Guth.

Senior forward Nyasha Sarju (Seattle, Wash.) continued her offensive brilliance, scoring a game-high 19 points on 5-of-11 shooting, while grabbing seven boards. Sophomore forward Jen Berkowitz (Wayland, Mass.) recorded her second-career double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds, helping the Elis pull away from the Gaels.

"It wasn't the prettiest game of basketball, but I think what you saw was two teams really hungry for a win," said Guth. "The biggest thing we did was find a way to win – make a stop, grab a rebound, and execute at the free throw line."

The Elis passed the ball exceptionally well, accounting 15 assists to Iona's seven – which was due in large part to the handles of sophomore guard Mary Ann Santucci (Seattle, Wash.). Santucci had 12 points, one of three Bulldogs in double-figures, while adding five rebounds and a game-high five assists.

"I thought Mary Ann was fantastic. She handled the pressure really well going up the floor and her vision was outstanding," said Guth. "I'm really proud of her effort tonight."

With the Bulldogs shooting just 33.9-percent from the field as a team, it was the defense that came up big at the end of the game. Leading 51-46 with 3:51 remaining, Yale did not allow Iona another point until a basket with five seconds left. Iona went 1-for-11 from the field in that time.

Iona shot 29.9-percent from the field as a team on Friday, while recording 15 turnovers against the active and fast-moving Yale defense.

Santucci, Sarju and senior captain Whitney Wyckoff (West Chester, Ohio) combined to go 10-for-10 from the free throw line in the final minute of the game. Yale's biggest lead of the game was 17 and the Gaels never led for any amount of time.

Yale jumped out to an early 9-2 lead in the first four minutes of the game, with sophomore guard Tamara Simpson (North Babylon, N.Y.) accounting for seven of those points.

The fast start was part of a 19-7 first quarter advantage for the Elis, who forced seven turnovers by Iona in those 10 minutes.

The Bulldogs took a 29-20 lead into the half, but were being outrebounded 25-19 at the time. However, Yale led the final rebounding totals at the final whistle, 47-41.

"You just have to attack the ball when you see it; you can't wait a second, otherwise, there will be multiple hands on it," said Berkowitz, who matched a career-high with 11 rebounds. "Attacking the ball and staying composed are both important."

Just when the Gaels went on a 7-0 run late in the third quarter and cut Yale's lead to two, it was Berkowitz who scored on a layup off a beautiful pass from Santucci to push the lead to four. On Yale's next possession, Sarju knocked in a three-pointer off a pass from Berkowitz to extend the lead to 40-33.

"I think Jen came in and really provided the presence on the glass that we were looking for. We really wanted to challenge Iona at the rim," said Guth. "She finished at the rim and played really tough."

Forward Joy Adams led the Gaels with a double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds, while guard Marina Lizarazu had 12 points and two assists in the game.

Wyckoff had seven points, three assists, and a career-high eight rebounds in the win, while senior center Emmy Allen (Overland Park, Kan.) had seven boards of her own.

The Bulldogs will get just one night's rest before playing Fairleigh Dickinson in game two of the Hall of Fame Women's Challenge on Saturday at 5 p.m. Live stats and a video stream are available for the game.

Filed by Steve Lewis, Yale Sports Publicity