Box Score Nov. 28, 2009
Box Score
Boca Raton, Fla. -
Behind an incredible free throw shooting performance where the team hit 28-of-30 from the line, the Fordham women's basketball team came away with a 71-64 win over San Jose State in the consolation game of the FAU Thanksgiving Tournament in Boca Raton, Fla.
With the win, Fordham evens their record at 3-3, while San Jose State falls to 1-5 on the year.
Fordham opened up strong behind six points from Katie Vican, as the team jumped out to a 10-4 lead early in the first half. Kristina Bell then joined the fray with a basket and two free throws to keep Fordham ahead, 14-11.
San Jose State would take a brief lead in the game, but Fordham responded with three free throw makes by Randall Hurst and a three-pointer from Becky Peters to recapture the lead at 20-19. Following Peters' three-pointer, the Rams extended their run to 11-0, as Fordham got two free throws each from Peters, Hurst, and Tiffany Stokes, as well as a basket from Stokes.
Fordham finished out the half by outscoring the Spartans, 22-5, over the last 7:17 of the first half to lead, 39-24, at the break. The Rams were great from the free throw line in the first half, hitting 17-of-18 from the charity stripe, while the defense held San Jose State in check, forcing 11 turnovers and outrebounding the Spartans, 19-11.
The Spartans picked up their offensive slack to start the second half, as they whittled the 15-point Rams' lead to one, 46-45, with 12 minutes left. The Rams however kept their lead with a 10-4 run, capped by two Peters' baskets to put Fordham up, 56-49, with eight minutes remaining.
The Spartans closed to within three, but Fordham's Kyara Weekes hit a driving lay-up, while finding Stokes with a quick pass for a lay-up on the following possession to extend the lead back to seven. The Rams then closed out the game with five-of-six made free throws to win the game by seven, 71-64.
For the game, Fordham shot 28-of-30 from the free throw line for 93.3%, and finished with a 34-21 edge in rebounding. The free throw shooting performance was the best by the Rams since hitting 21-of-22 free throws (95.5%) at George Mason on December 22, 2007.
Individually, Peters ended up with a game-high 18 points and was 9-of-10 from the charity stripe, while Bell tied a career-high with 17 points to go with six rebounds and was a perfect 8-for-8 from the free throw line. Hurst, who was selected to the All-Tournament team, added 13 points, seven rebounds, and three steals, and was 9-for-10 from the free throw line. Weekes also chipped in seven points, six rebounds, and four assists in the win.
Fordham will now head back to the New York area for a road match-up against St. Peter's College in Jersey City, N.J. on Wednesday, December 2nd, beginning at 7:00 PM.
