WASHINGTON -- The Fordham women's basketball team was defeated by #24/#23 George Washington, 83-65, Saturday in an Atlantic 10 matchup inside the Charles E. Smith Center. With the loss, the Rams fall to 17-10 (9-5 A10) on the season, while the Colonials improve to 24-3 (13-1 A10) overall.
Fordham was unable to slow down a GW offense that seemed to never miss a shot from the field en route to shooting 52.2 percent (35-of-67), including 5-of-11 from three-point range. Meanwhile, the Rams finished at 36.5 percent (23-of-65) and converted only 5-of-23 from distance.
Fordham hung around in the opening half despite the Colonials knocking down 54.8 percent of their shots, while the Rams connected on 12-of-34 (35.3 percent). The visitors trailed 18-9 seven minutes in but fought back to within four on three occasions, with the third time coming at 26-22 with 6:56 remaining before halftime.
GW responded with six unanswered to take its largest lead of the half, 32-22, before Fordham used an 11-4 spurt to get within three at 36-33 on a pair of free throws from freshman
G'mrice Davis. However, the Colonials outscored the Rams by three over the final 42 seconds of the stanza and took all the momentum into the locker room after a buzzer-beating layup for a 41-35 lead.
The second half was all GW, as the Colonials took control in the first five minutes and stretched their lead to 57-44. The Rams made it an 11-point contest on their next possession, but GW never allowed Fordham to get any closer.
The Colonials used their size to outscore the Rams in the paint, 42-22, and took advantage of fast-break opportunities to hold a 12-0 advantage. Fordham did hold the nation's top rebounding team to seven boards below their average, as the Rams were beaten on the glass, 41-36. Both teams combined for 28 turnovers, with Fordham giving it up 15 times.
Four players scored in double figures for the Rams, with sophomore
Danielle Burns and senior
Emily Tapio both scoring 12 points, while junior
Samantha Clark and Davis added 11 and 10 points, respectively. Burns' final tally established new career high, Tapio tied a season high in assists with six, and Clark pulled down a game-high seven rebounds.
GW's Jonquel Jones scored 18 of her game-high 22 points in the second half and did not miss a shot from the field (10-of-10, 2-of-2 Â 3FG). Caira Washington netted 14 of her 18 points before halftime, while Kelly Prange and Chakecia Miller added 12 and 10 points for the Colonials.
Fordham returns to action this Wednesday, Feb. 25 when it travels to Fairfax, Va. to take on George Mason, with tipoff slated for 7 p.m.
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