Women's Basketball Falls to Hofstra in Puerto Rico Relief Exhibition

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Bronx, N.Y. – Despite the unusually warm November weather the area has been experiencing, basketball season is finally back in the Bronx, as the Fordham women's basketball team hosted Hofstra on Friday afternoon in its second exhibition contest of the preseason and first at home. The Rams struggled with their shot in the first half, enough to fall just short despite a late rally in the fourth quarter, falling to the Pride, 55-46.
 
The Rams and Pride agreed on the contest earlier in the week to support Puerto Rico and its ongoing efforts to recover from Hurricanes Irma and Maria, teaming up with Unidos Por Puerto Rico. Fans can make a donation via the link above. The Harry Vanderslice Memorial Fund, in honor of Fordham head coach Stephanie Gaitley's late father, matched donations up to $1,000 made during the doubleheader with the men's program in their exhibition against Fredonia.
 
"A big 'thank you' to Hofstra tonight," Gaitley said after the game, "It was a great learning experience and an opportunity to learn more about ourselves, plus we helped raised money for Puerto Rico. It was a win-win across the board!"
 
It took until midway through the third quarter for Fordham to hit its first three-pointer, with the Rams shooting just 26.3% (5-of-19) from the field overall and missing all three first-half looks from deep. For Hofstra, the Pride shot 39.3% from the floor (11-of-28) with 4-of-8 made three's. The visitors led, 27-14, at the half.
 
The Rams more than doubled their first-half output in the third frame, scoring 17, but allowed 18 points from Hofstra to trail 45-31 heading to the final 10 minutes. Both teams shot 6-of-12 from the floor in the frame, the Rams hitting three three's compared to their opponent's one, but the Pride sank all five free throw attempts; the Rams went 2-for-4 from the stripe in the period.
 
Fordham continued to rally, though, with a 12-4 run over the first six minutes of the fourth to cut the deficit to single digits for the first time since the second frame. Upperclassmen G'mrice Davis and Lauren Holden were at the heart of the run, combining for nine of the team's 12 points. Freshman Johanna Klug began the frame with an and-one opportunity that she converted. Several Ram misses and fouls gave Hofstra back its momentum, though, and they held on for the nine-point victory.
 
Fordham shot very well in the second half, finishing with a 12-of-21 (57.1%) line from the floor, including 4-of-8 from behind the arc. The Pride answered with an identical 6-of-12 overall line in the third period but shot just 5-of-14 in the fourth, with three of those baskets coming in the final two minutes.
 
Davis and Holden shared team-high with 16 points apiece, the latter scoring 14 of those points in the second half on 5-of-6 shooting, 4-of-5 from beyond the arc. Davis, who finished with the second-most double-doubles in the country a year ago, with 24, added 13 rebounds and three assists, playing 39 minutes. Hofstra's Puerto Rican guard Aleana Leon posted a game-high 20 points without missing any of her seven shots from the floor or the line.
 
Six Fordham freshmen made their debuts, including starts for Klug, Bre Cavanaugh, and Halei Gillis. Klug finished with nine points on 4-of-5 shooting and four boards. Cavanaugh finished 1-for-3 from the field for two points but chipped in with three boards and two assists. Zara Jillings came off the bench for a team-high two steals, adding two points, one rebound, one assist, and one block, as well. Gillis had the team's other block, also notching a steal, assist, and four rebounds, missing her lone shot but hitting one of two from the charity stripe. There were also debuts for Kendell Heremaia and Ralene Kwiatkowski.
 
The Rams have one final exhibition on Sunday afternoon, against Post University at 2 p.m., before opening the regular season against UMBC next Friday afternoon at 5 p.m. as part of a doubleheader at the Rose Hill Gym.