Box Score Nov. 22, 2008
Box Score |
Photo Gallery 
Bronx, N.Y. -
Primed to put back-to-back wins together, the Fordham Rams clawed their way within one point of the Bucknell Bison, but could not make the final shot, falling to the Bison, 47-46, at the Rose Hill Gym on Saturday.
With the loss, Fordham goes to 1-2 on the season, while Bucknell improves to 3-0.
Fordham's Randall Hurst got the Rams off to a quick start, hitting her first two shots of the contest for a 4-0 lead. Bucknell responded with nine points of its own, highlighted by a three-pointer from Amanda Brown. The Bison held onto the lead, expanding it to nine, 25-16 on a pair of free throws from Lauren Schober. After Fordham cut the lead to five on baskets from Tiffany Stokes and Hurst, the Bison would take a seven-point lead into halftime, 27-20, on two free throws from Cosima Higham.
Despite being down by seven, Fordham's ball control and defense executed very well, committing only two turnovers in the half, while forcing eight Bucknell turnovers.
After the Rams scored the first basket of the second half, Bucknell put together a 9-2 run to extend their lead to 12, 36-24 with 15:27 left. Fordham then slowly chipped away at the Bison lead, putting together an 8-0 spurt, capped by a Becky Peters jumper to make it a 36-32 game. Bucknell eventually got their lead back to seven, 47-40, with 5:18 remaining, which is where Fordham made their final push.
Takita Earl and Peters both hit baskets to close the gap to three, 47-44, with just over three minutes to play. Megan Mahoney then hit a jumper with 1:51 to go, making it a one-point game, 47-46.
The Rams then had four chances to either tie the game or go ahead down the stretch on a free throw by Mahoney and shots by Hurst, Peters, and Annie Zopf, but the ball rattled out of the basket and would not fall, allowing Bucknell to steal the game from Fordham.
For Fordham, Randall Hurst recorded her first double-double as a Ram with 12 points and 10 rebounds, while Megan Mahoney and Kyara Weekes each added six points. The Rams also committed only five turnovers in the game, the lowest total for a single game in the team's history.
Bucknell was led by Cosima Higham, who finished with 16 points, 14 rebounds, and five blocks.
The Fordham women's basketball team will conclude their opening four-game homestand on Tuesday, November 25th, as they host NJIT at the Rose Hill Gym, beginning at 7:00 PM.
