Box Score Dec. 5, 2009
Final Stats |
Anne Gregory O'Connell Number Retirement Ceremony 
|
Game Action Photos vs. Rider | 12/5/09 - Highlights vs. Rider 
| 12/5/09 - Anne Gregory O'Connell Number Retirement Ceremony
Bronx, N.Y. -
On a momentous day in Fordham athletic history with the number retirement of Anne Gregory O'Connell, the Fordham women's basketball team put together a great performance on Women's Basketball Alumni Day, as three Rams finished in double figures to lead Fordham to a 65-56 win over the Rider Broncs at the Rose Hill Gym.
With the win, Fordham improves to 5-3 on the season, extending their win streak to three games, while Rider fell to 1-6.
Rider got out to a five-point lead to start the contest, before Fordham responded with a 12-2 run to grab an 18-13 lead at the midway point of the first half. Tiffany Stokes led the way in that stretch with three baskets, while Caitlin Shadbolt added a pair of lay-ups.
Rider later tied the game at 22 on a jumper by Tammy Myers, but Fordham rallied for seven straight points, capped by a three-point play from Katie Vican, giving Fordham their largest lead of the first half, 29-22. Rider however closed out the half down three, 31-28, as Amanda Sepulveda hit a three-pointer with three seconds left.
Fordham continued to build their lead in the second half, as they led by as many as 11 points, 54-43, following a lay-up by
Becky Peters.
Rider would not go away, putting together an 11-0 run to tie the game at 54 with 5:26 remaining in the second half. Vican then put Fordham back ahead with a pair of baskets with Stokes adding a free throw to get the lead back to five, 59-54.
Rider closed back within three on two free throws by Meyers, 59-56, but would not score the rest of the way, as Fordham iced the game with four free throw makes in the final 16 seconds to win the game, 65-56.
For Fordham, the three headed attack of Stokes, Vican, and Peters accounted for 49 of Fordham's 65 points. Peters finished with a game-high 19 points to go with five rebounds, four assists, and three steals, while Stokes had 15 points on 7-of-10 shooting to go with seven rebounds, three steals, and three blocks. Vican also posted 15 points on 7-of-11 shooting with Kristina Bell added eight points, seven rebounds, and six assists.
Rider had four players finish in double figures, led by Tammy Meyers with 17 points.
The Fordham women's basketball team will next be in action on Wednesday, December 9th, as they continue a three-game homestand against Iona College, beginning at 7:00 PM in the Rose Hill Gym. It will be Faculty Appreciation Day, as all faculty and professors are invited to attend the game.
The game concluded a day in which Fordham Athletics retired the #55 jersey of women's basketball great Anne Gregory O'Connell.
"Today was one of the coolest things to ever happen to me," said Gregory O'Connell. "To see my number hanging there, and knowing its going to be there forever, its one of the greatest feeling of my life."
Today's festivities began with a brunch in honor of the women's basketball great, which saw Fordham alum Chris Carino as the master of ceremonies as well as speeches from Anne's teammates, friends, and coaches.
"Every one had fabulous speeches, just one after another. It was a humbling experience," said Gregory O'Connell.
