Kingston, R.I. – The Fordham women's basketball team defense came to play on Thursday night, leading the Bronx Rams to a 56-38 victory at Rhode Island, with
Bre Cavanaugh pacing the offense with 21 efficient points. As a result, Fordham improves to 13-7 overall and 4-2 in Atlantic 10 play, while the Kingston Rams fall to 7-11 and 2-4, respectively.
"Really proud of our kids bouncing back after the last two losses," Head coach
Stephanie Gaitley said, "Winning on the road is tough and we got back to basics defensively."
Both teams struggled with their shooting on the night, but it was the visiting defense that made the difference until a late run by Fordham stretched the margin of victory to 18, third-highest on the year for the Rams. The defense tallied nine steals in the contest, second-most this season, with new career-highs for both
Kendell Heremaia (four) and
Megan Jonassen (three).
Fordham never trailed in the game;
Mary Goulding's layup within the first minute of play proved to be the eventual game winner for the visitors. The opening stanza was a testy affair with a combined 12 fouls and seven turnovers. Rhody would get within three on a couple of occasions but a trio of Cavanaugh free throws, who scored the team's final 11 points of the period, pushed the lead back to six, 17-11. Seven of those points in the quarter came off Rhode Island turnovers.
The visitors held the hosts to just seven points in the second quarter, giving them 18 in the half on 24.1% shooting, including a 0-for-5 mark from downtown. Similarly, Fordham shot 31.0% overall and 27.8% from deep.
Fordham's first third-quarter basket didn't come until the six-minute mark but it was a timely
Mary Goulding three to stop a 6-0 Rhode Island run. Elemy Colome would get her Rams within six with a three-point play but a
Zara Jillings putback layup and a pair of Cavanaugh freebies put the visitors' lead back into double figures, 39-29, heading to the final frame.
Rhode Island again made a small run, this time getting within seven, 41-34, before Fordham clamped down on defense, holding the hosts without a field goal from 8:32 until the final seconds, both Colome layups. After a Nicole Jorgensen free throw with 8:02 showing on the clock, Fordham rattled off a 13-1 run, including 11 unanswered points over the final two minutes on two free throws by
Lauren Holden and three-pointers by Cavanaugh, Heremaia, and Holden.
Cavanaugh's 21 points came on 6-of-14 shooting, including a 4-of-11 clip from behind the perimeter, and 5-of-6 shooting from the charity stripe. The redshirt sophomore added nine rebounds, a game-high four assists, and a steal over 40 minutes. Heremaia matched her with a game-high nine boards to go with 10 points and a career-high four steals over 24 minutes. Holden added 10 points, three assists, and a steal. Jillings, in a return to the starting lineup, posted six points, four rebounds, and two dimes in 32 minutes, while Goulding chipped in seven points, six rebounds, and two assists. Jonassen set a new personal-best, as well, with three steals in 22 minutes off the bench to go with five rebounds and an assist.
Rhode Island was held to 30.6% shooting from the field on the night, missing all nine three-point attempts, while the visitors hit their field goals at a 32.7% clip, 26.5% from deep, with an 11-of-16 line from the stripe. Fordham committed just 11 turnovers compared to 13 assists, as well, and slightly won the battle of the boards, 38-37, including a 9-8 margin on the offensive glass.
Fordham returns home to host Davidson on Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m.
