Box Score Jan. 17, 2010
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Bronx, N.Y. -
The Fordham Rams did everything they could to erase a 12-point second half deficit, as they knocked down a season-high 10 three-pointers, including six from the freshmen duo of Charlotte Stoddart and Arielle Collins, but ultimately came up shy of the Duquesne Dukes, 69-63, at the Rose Hill Gym.
With the loss, Fordham goes to 6-12 overall, 0-3 in the Atlantic 10, while Duquesne moved to 13-5 overall, 3-0 in league play.
The 10 made three-pointers were the most by the Rams since December 10, 2008, when Fordham knocked down 12 shots from behind the arc against Iona College.
The Rams started the game on fire, jumping out to a 16-5 lead, eight minutes into the game. Over that stretch, all five Fordham starters scored, highlighted by three-pointers from Kyara Weekes, Charlotte Stoddart, and Kristina Bell. The Dukes then rallied for a 12-2 run, capped by an Alex Gensler three-pointer, to pull within one, 18-17.
Bell got the Rams back ahead by five, scoring back-to-back baskets, but the Dukes eventually knotted the game at 26 on a three-pointer by Kelly Britcher. Becky Peters put the Rams back ahead with a jumper with 1:06 left, but Duquesne's Rachel Frederick knocked down a jumper at the other end to give the Dukes a 29-28 lead at halftime.
The lead went back and forth over the first four minutes of the second half, as Fordham led 35-33 after a pair of free throws from Randall Hurst. The Dukes then reeled off eight straight points, highlighted by a three-point play from Vanessa Abel, giving the Dukes a six-point edge, 41-35.
Fordham battled back within one, 41-40, on a three-pointer from Arielle Collins, but Duquesne responded with a 9-0 surge, capped by a three-pointer from Samantha Pollino, giving Duquesne a double-digit lead, 50-40.
The Dukes extended their lead to as many as 12, before Fordham answered back with an 11-0 spurt to pull within one, 56-55, with 6:01 remaining. Stoddart started the rally with back-to-back three-pointers, followed by a pair of free throws from
Caitlin Shadbolt. Collins then knocked down her second three-pointer of the half, cutting the deficit to one.
Duquesne still maintained the lead into the closing minutes, leading by seven, before Stoddart canned her fourth three-pointer of the game, leaving Fordham behind by four, 67-63, with 1:29 remaining.
The Rams however would not get any closer, as Frederick closed out the game with a pair of made free throws, giving the Dukes a six-point win.
For Fordham, Bell led the team with 15 points, five rebounds, and three assists, while Stoddart poured in a season-high 12 points to go with four rebounds and four assists. Hurst added 10 points and six rebounds with Collins having her best day as a Ram with six points and five rebounds in 15 minutes of action.
The Fordham women's basketball team will next be in action on Wednesday, January 20th, when they host the Charlotte 49ers at noon in the Rose Hill Gym. It will be Rams School Day, where the Rams invite local school children to enjoy college basketball action.
