Box Score Dec. 28, 2008
Box Score |
Photo Gallery 
Bronx, N.Y. -
The 2008 Fordham Holiday Tournament got off to a strong start with two strong offensive performances. In game one, Fordham's Becky Peters registered a double-double with 18 points and 12 rebounds and was one of four Rams in double figures as the Rams defeated Norfolk State, 71-44. In game two, Bryant had four players score at least 11 points as the Bulldogs topped Colgate, 71-59.
With the victories, Fordham and Bryant will match-up in the championship game at approximately 3:00 PM on Monday, while Norfolk State and Colgate will meet in the consolation game at 1:00 PM.
Game 1 - Fordham 71, Norfolk State 44
Fordham shot 48% from the field, while four players scored in double figures, as the Rams opened the 2008 Fordham Holiday Tournament with a 71-44 victory over the Norfolk State Spartans at the Rose Hill Gym.
With the win, Fordham evens their record at 6-6 on the season and advances to the tournament championship game. Norfolk State dropped to 0-6 on the season, and will play in the consolation game.
The win also marked the first back-to-back wins by the Rams since the final two regular season games of the 2005-06 season.
The Rams started the game strong, jumping out to 14-3 lead, just 7:30 into the game, capped by a fast break lay-up by Tyonna Willingham. Norfolk State closed the gap to four with a quick seven-point spurt highlighted by a three-pointer by Raychele Payne. Fordham however pushed the lead back to nine, 23-14 on a short range jumper by Annie Zopf with 4:26 remaining. After the Spartans closed the gap to five with 3:13 to go, Fordham closed out the half with a 9-0 run, highlighted by two baskets from Zopf and a three-pointer from Becky Peters, to take a 32-18 lead into halftime.
At the break, the Fordham defense held Norfolk State to just 7-of-31 from the field (23%), while outrebounding the Spartans, 24-17. At the offensive end, Fordham shot 45% from the field, led by Peters, who was 4-of-6 from the field, good for 10 points.
The second half saw much of the same, as Fordham continued to lead by double digits, 39-27 with 16:40 left. The Rams then put together another nine-point spurt, four of which came from Randall Hurst, to take a 21-point lead, 48-27. The Rams stayed steady, increasing that lead to as many as 29 on two free throws by Kyara Weekes, as Fordham went on to the 71-44 win.
Fordham shot 48.3% for the game, including 51.6% in the second half, while outrebounding Norfolk State, 51-32. The Rams set season-highs for points (71), points allowed (44), field goals made (29), rebounds (51), and blocks (9) in the contest.
For Fordham, Becky Peters registered her first career double-double with 18 points and 12 rebounds to go with a season-high six steals, while Randall Hurst had 12 points and nine rebounds. Kristina Bell chipped in 11 points, while Annie Zopf added 10 points, five rebounds, and four assists.
Ebony Gibbs led Norfolk State with 14 points, four rebounds, and four steals, while Raychele Payne had nine points.
Game 2 - Bryant 71, Colgate 59
Bryant's Kelsey O'Keefe and Courtney Schermerhorn each had 15 points and six rebounds, as the Bulldogs topped Colgate, 71-59, in game two of the Fordham Holiday Tournament.
With the win, Bryant improves to 4-6 on the year and will play Fordham in the championship game, while Colgate falls to 2-9 overall and will play Norfolk State in the consolation game.
The two teams played evenly through the first 20 minutes with Bryant leading by one late, but Courtney Schermerhorn hit a buzzer beater jumper to give the Bulldogs a three-point edge, 30-27, into halftime.
Bryant pushed the lead to five in the second half, before Colgate scored six straight points, capped by a Sami Kozlowski lay-up to take a 35-34 lead with 16:16 remaining. The lead went back and forth for the next couple of possessions, but Bryant would get a three-pointer from Lindsey Hudspeth to cap a seven-point spurt to give the Bulldogs a 45-37 lead.
Colgate would close the gap back to four, 52-48, with 8:22 to go, but Bryant held off the Raiders' attack, leading by as many as 12 down the stretch to take the 71-59 win.
For Bryant, Kelsey O'Keefe and Courtney Schermerhorn each scored 15 points and six rebounds, while Kristin Mraz had 12 points, four rebounds, and four assists off the bench.
Patricia Oakes led Colgate with 12 points and 12 rebounds, while Sami Kozlowski had 16 points.
