Coral Gables, Fla. - Nov. 24, 2007 - With two teams still searching for their first win, it was apparent early in the Fordham-Monmouth game that the outcome would come down to late offensive execution. Monmouth got the better of Fordham in that department, thanks to Veronica Randolph, as she scored a game-high 18 points to go with eight rebounds and four steals, as the Hawks recorded a 65-59 win over the Fordham Rams in the consolation game of the Miami Thanksgiving Tournament in Coral Gables, Florida.
With the loss, Fordham moves to 0-6 on the year, while Monmouth improves to 1-4.
Over the first ten minutes of the game, the teams played very close, as neither could boast more than a four-point lead. With the game tied at 14, Fordham went on an 8-0 run, capped by a three-pointer by Beth Troutt and a three-point play from Raina Spencer, to take a 22-14 edge. Fordham continued to hold that eight-point lead until the final 1:39 of the half, where Monmouth scored the final six points, as the Rams lead 28-26 at the break.
At the break, Fordham was much improved on the offensive end, shooting 42% from the field, while all eight Rams who played in the half scored at least one basket. Annie Zopf and Spencer led the way for Fordham with six points each, while Brooke McElroy led Monmouth with seven points.
In the second half, Monmouth grabbed a 32-30 lead, before Fordham reeled off a 13-2 run to lead by nine, 43-34, with 13:01 left. In that stretch, Spencer and Kyara Weekes both hit three-point plays, while Zopf hit a three-point shot. Monmouth closed the gap to four, on a three-pointer by McElroy, but Weekes responded with a jumper at the other end to leave Fordham up six, 45-39.
The Hawks then put together a 12-0 spurt, as Veronica Randolph hit a three-point play and two three-point baskets to give Monmouth a 51-45 lead with 9:13 left. The Rams battled right back with a pair of baskets by Zopf and a three-pointer by Megan Mahoney to make it a 53-52 game in favor of Monmouth.
The game was eventually tied at 56 on a jumper by Mahoney with four minutes left, but Monmouth continued to hit shots down the stretch, scoring nine straight points, and took the game by a 65-59 score.
For Fordham, Weekes, in just her second game, led the way with 17 points and three assists off the bench, while Zopf had 13 points, four rebounds, and four assists. Spencer chipped in nine points, seven rebounds, and three steals with Mahoney adding seven points.
The Fordham women's basketball team will next be in action on Wednesday, November 28th, as they host Providence College at the Rose Hill Gym, beginning at 7:00 PM.
