Box Score Dec. 2, 2009
Box Score
Jersey City, N.J. -
The year was 1993. That was the last time Fordham topped St. Peter's in women's basketball. That is until Wednesday night, as the Rams knocked off the Peahens, 61-59 at the Yanitelli Center in Jersey City, N.J. It was also Fordham's first victory over St. Peter's at the Yanitelli Center since the 1977-78 season.
The win also gave Fordham back-to-back wins for the first time since December of last season, when the Rams won both games at the Fordham Holiday Classic over Norfolk State and Bryant. It also puts Fordham at 4-3 on the season, which is the team's best mark through seven games since the 2003-04 season. St. Peter's dropped to 1-3 on the season.
The two teams started out slow with a combined seven turnovers in the first six minutes, as Fordham led 8-6. Fordham's Randall Hurst then went to work under the boards with five straight points, including a three-point play, to give Fordham a 15-9 lead.
The Rams kept the pressure on the Peahens, as Fordham went to work inside and at the free throw line. The Rams hit multiple shots in the paint from Hurst, Katie Vican, and Tiffany Stokes, while also hitting seven straight free throws, building their lead to as many as 12, 32-20, with 3:43 remaining in the first half. St. Peter's would cut the lead in half to 32-26, but the Rams got late baskets from Hurst and Stokes to enter halftime ahead, 37-30.
At the break, Hurst led all scorers with 11 points and five rebounds, with Vican adding nine points and a pair of steals for Fordham.
Fordham kept the pedal on the accelator in the second half, netting the first six points to build their largest lead of the game at 13, 43-30, with 17:14 left. St. Peter's however chipped away at the Fordham lead, as Alena Ali hit a three-pointer to bring the Peahens within four, 53-49.
After St. Peter's cut it to two, Fordham regained a seven-point lead, 59-52, with 2:59 left, following baskets by Kristina Bell and Becky Peters, as well as a jumper by Katie Vican.
The Peahens though would not go away, getting within one point, 59-58, with just over a minute remaining. Peters though would hit two free throws, giving Fordham back a three-point lead, 61-58.
St. Peter's though closed back with one on a pair of free throws and got the ball back with 10 seconds left. Jynae Judson would then take a short jumper from the right side, which missed long, giving Fordham the 61-59 win over St. Peter's.
For Fordham, Hurst just missed out on a double-double with 16 points and nine rebounds, while Vican had 14 points. Kyara Weekes and Peters each added nine points with Peters dishing out four assists.
For St. Peter's, Alena Ali had a game-high 22 points, while Jynae Judson had 16 points.
The Fordham women's basketball team will next be in action on Saturday, December 5th, when they host Rider University for a 1:00 PM tipoff on Alumni Day. In correlation with Alumni Day, the Rams will retire women's basketball great Anne Gregory O'Connell's #55 at halftime.
