Box Score Nov. 26, 2010
Box Score
Lawrence, Kansas -
The opening game of the BTI Tip-Off Classic between Fordham and Memphis had a little bit of everything, making it an "instant classic." Trailing by 14 in the first half, Fordham rallied behind career-high performances from Caitlin Shadbolt and Arielle Collins to get a last chance shot to win the game. However, the final shot wouldn't fall, as Fordham gave Memphis all it could handle in 67-66 loss at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, Kansas.
The loss snaps Fordham's four-game win streak, as the Rams move to 4-2 on the season, while Memphis improved to 3-2.
"I can't be more proud of our team tonight. They gave it a great shot, and it is great lesson for our team. Our kids did everything we asked of them, and they came back strong from a double-digit deficit in the first half. Against a team like Memphis, for us to have a shot to win, there at the end, is a great testament from our kids," said head coach Cathy Andruzzi following the game.
With Fordham trailing by one, 67-66 with 3.3 seconds left, Memphis' Nicole Dickson tried to inbound the ball, but the ball was stolen by Fordham's Becky Peters. Peters then tried to pass the ball to an open Kristina Bell near the basket, but Bell could not get off a final shot, as the buzzer sounded to end an incredible effort by the Rams.
Down by as many as 14 points in the first half, Fordham clawed its way back into the game, using a 7-0 spurt to end the period down just four, 34-30.
The Rams also relied heavily on senior Caitlin Shadbolt to get back into the game, as she finished the first half with 14 points to lead all scorers.
The second half started just like the first half ended. The Rams netted the first seven points of the period to grab a 37-34 lead, capped by a Tiffany Stokes jumper with 16:33 remaining. After Memphis regained the lead at 39-37, Arielle Collins drained back-to-back three-pointers, while Shadbolt added a third, to give Fordham a 46-41 edge.
Becky Peters continued the outside scoring barrage with another three-pointer, giving Fordham its largest lead of the game at six, 49-43, with 10:59 to go.
Memphis followed with four straight baskets of their own, eventually knotting the game at 52 with under eight minutes to play.
Shadbolt kept the Fordham offense rolling with a basket and two made free throws, putting Fordham back ahead by three, 56-53. Memphis' Bliqis Abdul-Qaadir came back with four points of her own, which gave the lead back to Memphis, 59-56. Collins answered back with her second circus shot three-point play of the half, tying the score at 59 all with 3:26 remaining.
After three exchanged baskets by the two teams left Memphis up two, Shadbolt again came up with the big shot, hitting her fourth three-pointer of the game to put Fordham back ahead by one, 64-63, with only 1:29 left.
Memphis' Jasmine Lee kept the seesaw affair going with a made jumper, giving Memphis the lead with one minute remaining. Collins looked to answer back but her three-pointer was off the mark, with Fordham fouling Abdul-Qaddir, who made two free throws for a three-point lead, 67-64.
Fordham looked for the tie on a three-point attempt by Peters, which missed, but Bell was right there for the put back, which led to the final steal by Fordham on the final possession.
The Rams' valiant comeback effort was highlighted by an 8-for-18 shooting performance from three-point range, led by Shadbolt's four made three-pointers. Shadbolt finished the game with a career-high 26 points on 10-of-18 shooting to go with five rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Collins also put forth a career-best performance with career-highs of 14 points and six rebounds on 5-of-7 shooting. Tiffany Stokes just missed out on a double-double with nine points and nine rebounds, with Peters adding nine points, five boards, and three steals.
Fordham will be right back in action at the BTI Tip-Off Classic on Saturday, when it plays North Dakota State at 4:30 PM Eastern.
Game Notes: Fordham falls to 0-2 all-time against Memphis... The 26-point effort by Shadbolt was the highest output for a Ram this season, and the most by a Fordham player since Randall Hurst scored 27 points against Wofford on December 6th, 2008... Fordham set a season-high in three-point shooting against Memphis (.444)... Collins' previous career-high in scoring (12 pts.) came in the Rams' opener against Elon this season.
