Bronx, N.Y. – The Fordham women's basketball team got one step closer to the official beginning of the 2018-19 campaign with a 75-54 tune-up victory over NYIT on Saturday evening inside the Rose Hill Gym. The Rams led for all but 15 seconds as they prepare for their season and home opener next Friday night against Wagner.
NYIT scored the night's first basket but the Rams quickly took the lead on their next offensive possession, with sophomore
Kendell Heremaia draining a three, and would never look back en route to the 21-point victory over the Bears. Fordham shot 46.7% from the field in the opening period (7-for-15) and 60% from behind the arc (3-for-5), while limiting the visitors to just 26.7% shooting overall (4-for-15). Fordham doubled NYIT's first-quarter score, 22-11, and led at the half, 43-26, while shooting 40% from the floor in the second quarter (6-for-15). At the half, the Rams were shooting 13-for-30 overall (43.3%) and 6-of-11 from long range (54.5%).
A low-scoring third quarter yielded a 15-10 scoreline in favor of the home squad and the benches emptied in the fourth with Fordham edging out the Bears, 19-18, in the final frame. Overall, the Rams shot 39.3% from the floor (22-of-56) and 7-of-19 from behind the arc (36.8%) with a 24-for-29 clip at the free-throw line. NYIT, meanwhile, shot 33.3% overall and just 42.1% from the charity stripe (8-of-19). The Rams outscored NYIT, 28-16, in the paint, and, 17-4, off turnovers. The Rams outrebounded the Bears, 45-22, including 16 offensive rebounds.
Freshman
Kaitlyn Downey, in her 'unofficial' debut, led all players with 18 points on 5-of-9 shooting from the floor with five rebounds, two steals, and two three-pointers over 18 minutes. Joining her in double figures was preseason First Team All-Conference selection
Bre Cavanaugh, who finished with 11 points, five boards, two assists, and a steal. Seniors
Mary Goulding and
Lauren Holden each tallied eight points with the former adding a game-high 11 rebounds (four offensive), three steals, and two assists. Sophomore
Vilisi Tavui chipped in eight points and eight boards off the bench, while freshman
Chloe Chaffin notched seven points.
Fordham opens up its 2018-19 season against Wagner on Friday, November 9
th, at 7 p.m. The game will be streamed live online on ESPN+.
