Bronx, N.Y. – The Fordham women's basketball team rallied to overcome a halftime deficit but fell in the final seconds to Saint Joseph's, 52-50, in the regular season finale. With the loss, the Rams fall to 21-8 overall and 12-4 in conference play, tying the program mark for most league victories, while the Hawks improve to 15-13 and 10-6, respectively. Fordham finishes third in the Atlantic 10 standings and will host Rhode Island on Tuesday night in the first round of the A-10 Championship.
Saint Joseph's led, 25-19, at the half but the Rams stormed back with a 12-4 run to start the second half. The score would remain even for the remainder of the game as the two teams traded blows. It was Chelsea Woods who landed the final punch, though, with one second remaining on the clock to give the Hawks the road victory.
The Rams began the game shooting just 3-of-17 from the floor and nine turnovers but finished the first half 3-of-4, including
Mary Goulding's last-second three, with no turnovers to get within six. After the Rams' 12-4 run, the Hawks bounced back and ended the third quarter on a 10-7 run to hold a slim margin. Cavanaugh drilled a wide-open three from the top of the key to knot the game back up, 43-43, and Fordham took the lead through a
Johanna Klug free throw.
G'mrice Davis followed that with a layup to give the hosts their largest lead of the night, 46-43, but Sarah Veilleux's layup on the other end cut it to one and Woods tied things up moments later with a free throw. A clutch offensive rebound and layup by
G'mrice Davis put Fordham up two but Woods drained a mid-range jumper to tie things back up, 48-48. Two minutes later, with 32 seconds on the clock, Woods' layup fell to give the visitors the lead. Davis was fouled going up for an offensive board on the other end, the Hawks' fifth team foul, and the senior hit both of her freebies. Saint Joseph's went back to Woods again, who scored the game-winning basket, and Goulding's last-second three-point attempt was blocked by Veilleux at the buzzer.
Davis, honored pregame during her Senior Day ceremony, finished with 19 points and 12 rebounds, plus a block and two steals, over 37 minutes. Cavanaugh bounced back with 17 points and eight rebounds, the latter matching her season-high.
Fordham won the battle of the boards, 36-33, but was outshot, 39.3% to 31.9%. Saint Joseph's missed all six of its three-point attempts, while the Rams converted four of 13 tries.
The Atlantic 10 Championship begins on Tuesday night at the Rose Hill Gymnasium as Fordham hosts Rhode Island at 7 p.m. The winner will advance to Richmond to play either Saint Joseph's or VCU in the quarterfinals next Friday, March 2, at 7 p.m.
