Box Score
Coral Gables, Fla. – The Fordham women's basketball team held on for a 59-53 win over Grambling State in the final game of the Miami Thanksgiving Tournament to take third place honors. Junior forward
G'mrice Davis was named to the All-Tournament team with two straight double-doubles, including successive career-highs and the first 20+ rebound game in 13 years. The Rams improve to 4-2 on the season, while Grambling State falls to 1-5 overall.
The first period of today's contest was one both teams are likely to forget. Fordham held a 10-6 advantage after 10 minutes of play but had committed seven turnovers and were shooting just 5-of-13 from the floor and 0-6 from deep. Fortunately for the Rams, Grambling State was shooting just 2-of-15 from the floor and had committed four turnovers. One bright spot was
G'mrice Davis, who had the team's first six points and six rebounds in seven minutes.
Mary Goulding added the other two buckets.
The second quarter offered more offense for both teams, especially for Fordham and senior guard
Hannah Missry, who poured in 13 points in the period alone on a perfect 5-of-5 from the floor and 3-of-3 from deep.
Lauren Holden and
Danielle Padovano each added a three and
Tiffany Suarez had a jumper go, as well. The Rams shot the ball very well in the second period and ended the half shooting 56.5% from the floor. However, they also committed eight more turnovers in the frame for 15 total, two more than in all of the Texas Tech game on Friday. At the break, Grambling State was shooting just 28.1% but had 14 of their 24 points off of turnovers and had coughed up the ball just six times.
The third quarter started with a flourish and ended with a whimper. The Rams made all five of their attempts to start the period, while the Tigers made four of their six. After that, Grambling State was held without a field goal the rest of the quarter but Fordham couldn't capitalize, making just two more baskets but still leading by 15. Davis hauled in three offensive rebounds late in the third period and pulled down a career-best 18
th board but the Rams shots weren't falling.
The fourth quarter proved nervy down the stretch as the Tigers brought the deficit down to single digits and hit two threes late to get within six but that's as far as they got. Grambling State outscored the Rams, 17-11, in the final period.
Davis finished with 15 points (7-of-14 FG) and 21 rebounds, the most since Kyshawn Ruff had the same number against St. Bonaventure in February 2003. The junior also had a block and a steal in 35 minutes of action. Missry finished with 15 points on 6-of-13 shooting and 0-of-7 from deep outside of the second quarter, plus six rebounds.
Lauren Holden had 10 points on 2-of-5 shooting, including 2-of-4 from deep. Grambling State's Shakyla Hill finished with a game-high 17 points to go with nine rebounds, four assists, and four steals in 32 minutes.
Missry's three makes from beyond the arc tonight giver her 251 all-time and moves her past April Robinson (Duquesne '13-'16) for 11th-most in A-10 history. Five more and she will join the top-10.
Fordham finished with a season-high 24 turnovers but also a season-high 46 rebounds. The Rams took a season-low 50 attempts from the field and had 21 total fouls, including seven in the fourth quarter.
The Rams begin their conference schedule early this year, hosting Duquesne on Thursday night, December 1, at 7 p.m. That contest will be broadcast live on the A-10 Digital Network.
