Box Score Feb. 7, 2009
Box Score |
Philadelphia, Pa. - In the second game of the season, the Fordham Rams snapped a 35 game losing streak that dated back to the 2006-07 season. On Saturday, the Rams found themselves snapping two more steaks in one game, with the Rams defeating the La Salle Explorers, 48-45, in Fordham's first Atlantic 10 win in 27 tries and their first road win in over two years.
The win for Fordam puts the Rams at 8-15 on the season (1-7 Atlantic 10) while La Salle drops to 10-13 (1-7 Atlantic 10).
Aside from their first Atlantic 10 win in over two years, the victory for the Rams also snaps a 0-23 game road losing streak that dates back to the February 4, 2007 game at Duquesne where the Rams defeated the Dukes, 74-65. Coincidently, that game was also Fordham's last conference win as well.
In Saturday's game against La Salle, things came down to the wire, just as it did in the first meeting between Fordham and La Salle earlier this year where the Explorers defeated the Rams, 42-41, at the Rose Hill Gym. With 54 seconds remaining and the Rams going on top, 45-42, off of Annie Zopf's 100th career three-pointer, La Salle's Ashley Gale knocked down a trey from the left corner to notch the game at 45-45.
On the ensuing Fordham possession, freshman Becky Peters pulled up at the free-throw line to knock down a jumper that put the Rams back up, 47-45, with just 20 seconds left to go.
La Salle quickly inbounded the ball to find the hands of Jamie Walsh. Her shot from beyond the arc would go just long and into the hands of Peters to give the Rams possession.
After a few quick Explorers fouls, Peters found herself on the line in a one-and-one situation. The freshman knocked down the first of the two shots that would put the Rams up three and, ultimately, ended the game 48-45.
Zopf led the way for the Rams with 11 points, eight rebounds and four steals as junior Randall Hurst recorded an 11 point, seven rebound day. Peters added 10 points while sophomore Tiffany Stokes added six rebounds and two assists.
La Salle started the first half off with Margaret Eldteron and Jenna Gilbert knocking down the Explorers' first 12 points. Becky Peters responded with a three and Kristna Bell's first two points of the game left the Rams down 12-5.
After a La Salle free-throw, one of
Kyara Weekes two steals in the half led to
Randall Hurst running down the court and knocking down her first basket of the game. Weekes then brought the Rams to within two by splitting the defense and driving the lane for her first points of the game.
The score stood at 13-11 for the next four and a half minutes until four Morgan Robertson points and a Hurst layup made the score 17-13 in La Salle's favor with 4:33 remaining in the half.
On the next Fordham possession, Hurst took a pass, down low, from Weekes and drew a foul while making the basket. In an attempt to complete the three-point play, Hurst missed the free-throw, but Annie Zopf was right there, grabbing the rebound and dishing out the rock to Takita Earl whose layup gave the Rams up their first lead of the game at 18-17.
For the remainder of the half, Fordham would tack on five more points to La Salle's two closed out by a key block by Earl that led to Zopf knocking down a jumper right before the buzzer could sound to put the Rams up 23-19 at half-time.
In the middle of the second half, The Rams found themselves trailing, 33-32, with 7:45 remaining. This marked the first time since the 2:45 mark in the first half that Fordham was not out on top.
After Takita Earl committed her first foul of the game, the hot shooting Morgan Robertson hit both ends of a one-and-one for two of her 12 second-half points to put the Explorers up 35-32.
Though this foul seemed costly, Earl responded on the next defensive stand with her second block of the game and scored on the ensuing offensive possession to bring the Rams back to within one of the Explorers.
Robertson would knock down one more basket to bring the Explorers back up by three, but senior Annie Zopf's shot from beyond the arc notched the game at 37-37 with 5:14 remaining.
With the Rams down by two from Robertson hitting, yet again, another two free-throws on a one-and-one, Kyara Weeks put the Rams back on top, 40-39, with a trey from the right side of the court. La Salle would eventually add on six points to the Ram's five to tie the game 45-45 to enter the final minute of play.
Fordham returns to action on Tuesday, February 10th as they take on the Dayton Flyers at the UD Arena in Dayton, Ohio. Tip-off is set for 7:00 PM.
NOTES: The win over La Salle breaks an 0-26 losing streak in the Atlantic 10, 0-23 road losing streak and a 0-9 overall losing skid...senior Annie Zopf knocked down career trey number 100...this is the Rams first win over La Salle since February 24, 2006 where Fordham defeated the Explorers 76-68 in Philadelphia...Fordham increases its record to 6-3 when leading at the half this year.
