Women's Basketball Picks Up Fifth Conference Road Win at Davidson, 58-45

Davidson, N.C. – Tough defense and rebounding paved the way for the Fordham women's basketball team's 58-45 win at Davidson on Saturday afternoon, the team's fifth conference road win of the year and 19th overall. With the win, the Rams improve to 19-6 and 10-2 in Atlantic 10 action, while the Wildcats fall to 10-15 and 5-7, respectively.
 
"Winning on the road in conference play takes toughness and grit," Head coach Stephanie Gaitley said, "Davidson is tough and their lowest scoring game in their last five has been 68. To hold them to 45 is a defensive statement."

Fordham used big first and fourth quarters to push past the Wildcats, scoring 20 and 18, respectively, while holding the hosts to 10 points in each frame. Davidson's Mackenzie Latt started the game off with a pair of free throws right before Lauren Holden hit the first of her career-high-matching five triples on the other end. The two teams traded baskets before Katie Turner hit a three of her own to give the hosts a very early two-point lead. G'mrice Davis answered that with an and-one, the free throw proving to be the difference on the day. That basket kickstarted a 15-0 Fordham run, capped by a pair of Holden treys, to give the Rams a 20-8 lead.
 
That lead would not last, however, as Davidson rallied with nine unanswered points while Fordham missed seven straight shots and committed six turnovers. A fourth Holden three stopped the run and the two teams would trade baskets for the remainder of the half, with Bre Cavanaugh scoring Fordham's final six points of the half. The visitors led, 29-24, at the break.
 
Holden started the second half off with her fifth and final triple, sandwiched with a Cavanaugh three around a Kianna Speight layup to give Fordham a 35-26 lead halfway through the third frame. Again, however, the Wildcats didn't the game slip away and rattled off eight unanswered points over a two minute span to get within one. Fordham didn't allow the hosts to retake the lead and steadily built up a lead that would grow back to double figures. Davis capped off the third quarter with a jumper on one end and a buzzer-beating block on the other, but the referees assessed the senior a technical after the latter and Turner converted the freebie.
 
Johanna Klug found herself with space on the first possession of the final period and drained her third three-pointer of the season to start a 7-2 run to get back into double figures. The Wildcats would fight to get to single digits on a couple occasions but the Rams saw out the contest with an 11-6 run over the final six-plus minutes to seal the victory.
 
Fordham was led by 19 points from Cavanaugh on 7-of-22 shooting and Davis' 13th straight double-double, and 21^st overall, scoring 11 but matching her career-high with 21 rebounds, her second career 20-rebound game. Holden hit 5-of-6 three-point attempts through the game's first 21 minutes to finish with 15 points and Mary Goulding chipped in 10. Cavanaugh, Davis, and Klug combined for five blocks and six steals.

The Rams outshot the Wildcats, 35.6% to 32.7%, including a superior 47.1% mark from behind the arc (8-of-17) to Davidson's 27.3% clip (3-of-11). Fordham nearly doubled the hosts' rebound total, as well, winning the battle on the glass, 49-28, including 20 offensive boards. Fordham did commit 16 turnovers, however, to just seven assists.
 
Davidson's 45 points is the eighth time a Fordham opponent has been held below 50 points, with all eight being wins for the Rams. It's also the 61^st such time under Coach Gaitley, with Fordham holding a 56-5 record with such defensive efforts.

Fordham returns home for a quick turnaround, hosting La Salle on Tuesday night at 7 p.m. in the team's annual Play4Kay game. Fans are encouraged to wear pink.