Women's Basketball Snaps Skid With 50-42 Triumph Over Rhode Island on Alumni Day

Photo Gallery

BRONX, N.Y. -- The Fordham women's basketball team snapped a mini two-game Atlantic 10 skid Saturday inside the Rose Hill Gym when it defeated Rhode Island, 50-42, on Alumni Day. With the victory, Fordham improves to 9-12 (4-4 A10) on the season, while Rhode Island falls to 10-10 (4-4 A10) overall.

Fordham led the final 37 minutes after freshman Lauren Holden knocked down a triple to put the home team in front 5-4. Later in the first stanza, a jumper from junior Danielle Padovano increased the lead to 11-6 at the 3:39 mark, before Fordham led by a score of 13-10 after 10 minutes of play.

Junior Hannah Missry connected from deep to start the second quarter, and senior Samantha Clark did as well later on, which increased the Fordham advantage to 19-12 with 4:32 remaining before halftime. After Rhode Island scored the next five, the home team responded with the final four, with junior Danielle Burns' put back at the buzzer producing a 23-17 halftime lead.

Both teams struggled from the field over the first 20 minutes. Fordham managed to shoot only 25.7 percent (9-of-35), including 3-of-15 from distance. However, the defense held Rhode Island to 23.1 percent (6-of-26) and 1-of-7 from three.

The visitors sliced the Fordham lead to two to start the third quarter until a three from Holden and a layup from sophomore G'mrice Davis stretched the lead back out to seven at 28-21. The advantage eventually reached nine when Clark scored on a layup to put Fordham in front by a score of 37-28 with 2:33 remaining in the stanza. But Rhode Island tallied the final five points to once again cut the deficit to four, 37-33, entering the final 10 minutes.

With Fordham leading 39-35 with exactly seven minutes remaining, Missry nailed a triple, and Clark delivered with an old-fashion three-point play to give the home team a 45-35 lead. After the visitors scored the next five, Missry delivered the dagger with another three, and Burns sealed it with a pair of free throws with 28 ticks left that moved Fordham back in front by 10 at 50-40.

Missry and Davis led Fordham in scoring, as they each finished with 12 points. Holden added 10 points, while Burns and Clark both grabbed 14 rebounds. Burns established a new career high with the result, and Clark tied her career best. Clark also dished out a game-high five assists and recorded a team-best two steals over 40 minutes of action.

Fordham shot 50.0 percent in the second half to finish the game at 34.5 percent (19-of-55), including 7-of-21 from downtown. The home team, however, struggled at the free throw line where they made only 5-of-13. The defense limited Rhode Island to 30.4 percent (17-of-56) shooting and just 4-of-17 from three. Fordham also dominated on the glass with a 48-30 advantage.

Charise Wilson led the visitors with 15 points, seven rebounds, five assists and three steals, while Samantha Tabakman added 10 points and nine boards.

Fordham returns to action Wednesday, Feb. 3 when it welcomes first-place George Washington to the Rose Hill Gym for a 7 p.m. tipoff.