Women's Basketball Falls at #1 Notre Dame, 67-36, in South Bend

Box Score | Box Score (.pdf)

South Bend, Ind. – The Fordham women's basketball team held its own against the number one team in the country, Notre Dame, in the second round of the Preseason WNIT, holding the Fighting Irish to its lowest output since early February of last season in a 67-36 defensive slugfest. With the loss, the Rams are 1-1 to start the season and have one consolation game remaining against Arkansas-Little Rock on Saturday at noon, while Notre Dame improves to 2-0 overall.
 
"This was a great opportunity, playing at the number one team in the country's facility. Our kids played their hearts out; I thought we left it all out on the court," head coach Stephanie Gaitley said, "I wish it was a 30 minutes game instead of a 40 minute game. A 30 minute game might've been interesting but their talent, strength, and physicality kind of overtook us at the end. Our goal is to now put together a 40 minute game and grow from this."
 
Fordham held the Irish to just 37.5 shooting from the field and didn't allow a single long-range make through the first three quarters, trailing the hosts 47-32 at the time. However, a 20-4 fourth period by the Fighting Irish blew the lead up to 31 by the end of the game as they shot 72.7% from the field and made one of two three's. Fordham struggled on offense, shooting just 23.1% from the field and 10.5% (2-for-19) from beyond the arc. Still, eight of the nine Rams to get on the court made at least one basket on the night.
 
This is Notre Dame's lowest scoring output since a 66-60 win at Louisville last February 7.

 
Junior forward G'mrice Davis led the team in nearly every category, finishing with nine points on 4-of-12 shooting, a career-high 15 rebounds, three assists, and four steals, also matching a career-high with 36 minutes played. Senior Danielle Burns was next with eight points and four rebounds in 30 minutes. Notre Dame's Lindsay Allen and Arike Ogunbowale each finished with 13 points; Allen also added six rebounds and five assists in a team-high 37 minutes.
 
Reigning ACC Player and Defender of the Year Brianna Turner started the game off with a jumper but the game quickly descended into what would characterize the first three quarters of the contest, a multitude of defensive stops, turnovers, and missed shots. A layup from Kate Kreslina and two free throws by Burns put the Rams within two, 6-4, in the early going, but the Fighting Irish compiled a quick 6-0 run to go up 12-4 with four minutes to go in the period. Fordham made some noise with a 7-2 run, capped by a Hannah Missry corner three that quieted the crowd, but the hosts held Fordham to just one point over the final two minutes to lead, 20-12, after a quarter of play. Notre Dame scored 14 of its points in the paint.
 
The second quarter saw 11 turnovers and just seven field goals as Notre Dame outscored Fordham, 14-8, to lead, 34-20, heading into the break. The Rams came out of the break with fresh legs and put pressure on the Irish, playing very solid defense and getting the deficit back to single digits, 36-28, with 3:06 to play in the period after a long two by freshman Anna Kelly. However, Notre Dame finished the period strong with three and-ones. Until that last one by Ogunbowale, Fordham had outscored the number one team in the country for most of the period. Notre Dame finished the quarter with a slim 13-12 margin in the frame.
 
The fourth quarter saw an offensive outburst from Notre Dame and tired legs going the other way. The lead grew beyond 16 for the first time all game and continued as the Fighting Irish put away nearly all of their chances, including making their one and only three of the night.
 
The Rams return to the Bronx for their final Preseason WNIT match-up against Little Rock on Saturday afternoon. That contest will be streamed live on the A-10 Digital Network and WFUV. After that, Fordham returns home next Tuesday night, November 22, to host Albany at 7 p.m. in the Bronx.