Box Score Dec. 22, 2008
Box Score
Bronx, N.Y. -
Down one with less than 15 seconds remaining, Fordham's Randall Hurst scored two of her game-high 19 points to put Fordham ahead and then the Rams' defense held the Central Connecticut State Blue Devils scoreless on their final two possessions for a 66-64 victory at the Rose Hill Gym on Monday night.
With the win, Fordham improves to 5-6 on the year, while Central Connecticut State goes to 5-5 overall.
In the early goings, the Blue Devils jumped out to a six-point edge, 18-12, as Justina Udenze had eight of those points. Fordham responded with a quick 10-0 run, capped by a three-point play by Kristina Bell and a three-pointer from Kyara Weekes, to go ahead 22-18.
With Fordham leading 24-20, Central Connecticut ended the half with three-pointers from Leanne Crockett and Jhanay Harris to close out the half up two, 28-26. The Blue Devils mainly manufactured that lead with 10 second chance points on 13 offensive rebounds.
The game went back and forth over the first four minutes of the second half with the score tied at 32 with 15:50 left. The Blue Devils then put together a 13-3 run to get a 45-35 lead with 11:13 to go. In that span, Udenze scored seven points for Central Connecticut.
Fordham then showed their resiliency going on their own 12-0 run, spurred on by their defense. The Rams caused three turnovers over a three-minute span, with Annie Zopf netting six points and Becky Peters hitting the go-ahead three-pointer with 8:02 remaining.
The lead continued to change hands throughout the next six minutes with the score eventually tying for the ninth time in the game at 60 all on the first of two free throws by Fordham's Randall Hurst. Hurst gave Fordham a one-point lead on the second make, but Udenze gave the lead back to the Blue Devils, 62-61, with 1:43 to go.
Peters responded at the other end with a jumper in the lane that found the bottom of the net, but Shontice Simmons again gave Central Connecticut a 64-63 edge with a basket with 1:02 on the clock. After a missed Fordham shot, the Rams forced Crockett into a turnover, leaving the Rams with 30.2 seconds to get the go ahead basket.
Weekes then came across the top of the key to find Hurst in the lane for the basket and a 65-64 lead. Kerrianne Dugan tried to put Central Connecticut back ahead but her shot fell short with Hurst grabbing the rebound and getting fouled.
Hurst made one of two free throws for a two-point lead, leaving the Blue Devils with one final long heave that came up short, as Fordham gritted out the victory.
For Fordham, Randall Hurst scored a game-high 19 points to go with eight rebounds, four assists, and three steals, while Becky Peters added 12 points. Annie Zopf chipped in 10 points and three steals with Kristina Bell having nine points and three boards.
Central Connecticut was led by Justina Udenze, who finished with 17 points and nine rebounds, while Shontice Simmons had 15 points and five boards.
The Fordham women's basketball team is now off for Christmas and will return to the court on December 28-29, as the Rams host the Second Fordham Holiday Tournament at the Rose Hill Gym. Fordham will open the tournament on Sunday, December 28th, against Norfolk State at 1:00 PM, followed by Colgate and Bryant at approximately 3:00 PM. The tournament will then conclude on Monday, December 29th.
