Nov. 6, 2007
Box Score
Bronx, N.Y. -
The Fordham women's basketball team opened their 2007-08 season on Tuesday night with their lone exhibition contest at the Rose Hill Gym against the New York Gazelles. Many things improved from last year's squad as Fordham shot well from the floor at 44%, while outrebounding an opponent by a 46-32 margin. Unfortunately, turnovers did in the Rams, as the Gazelles turned 26 turnovers into 25 points, to put together a 65-59 win over Fordham.
The game was tight during the first ten minutes of the game, as Fordham held an 18-15 lead. Megan Mahoney, in her first action as a Ram, netted seven of Fordham's points through that stretch. The Gazelles though got hot as Shemika Stevens scored eight straight points, including a pair of three-pointers, to give the Gazelles a 23-20 advantage. The lead stayed within five until a three-pointer by Fordham's Beth Troutt cut the lead back to two, 30-28, with 3:13 left in the period.
The Gazelles then extended their lead to seven points, 37-30, on a basket by Yolanda Rayside and a three-pointer by Bianca Brown, but Fordham closed the gap to five just prior to the half on a pair of free throws by Raina Spencer.
At the half, the Gazelles biggest advantage was points off turnovers as they notched 19 points off 14 Fordham turnovers. The Gazelles' Shemika Stevens led all scorers with 12 points, while Fordham's top scorers were Mahoney with nine points and Takita Earl with seven points and six rebounds.
In the second half, the Gazelles quickly boosted their lead to double digits, leading by 11, 43-32, just two minutes into the period. The Rams then roared back with a 15-3 run to take a 47-46 lead with 13:47 left, as Mahoney and Earl combined for all 15 in that stretch. The lead went back and forth over the next seven minutes before the Gazelles regained the lead and stretched it to eight, 57-49, on a basket by Brown, with 6:30 remaining.
The Gazelles increased their lead to as many as ten, before Fordham cut it to five, following back-to-back three-pointers by Troutt and Annie Zopf. The Rams however would not get any closer, falling by six.
For Fordham, Megan Mahoney netted a team-high 18 points, while Takita Earl collect 15 points and eight rebounds. Beth Troutt added eight points and eight rebounds, with Annie Zopf chipping in eight points, five rebounds, and five assists. On the glass, Kassie Humphries hauled in a game-high 10 rebounds.
The Fordham Women's Basketball team will now start their regular season, as they open on the road on Sunday, November 11th, as they play at Manhattan College at 4:00 PM.
