Nassau, Bahamas – The Fordham women's basketball made a late charge but ultimately fell to #25/24 Arkansas, 71-59, in its first game of the inaugural Bahamas Hoopfest on Friday.
Bre Cavanaugh led the way with her sixth career double-double. With the loss, the Rams fall to 2-5 overall, while the Razorbacks improve to 6-1.
"I felt that we left it all out there today," Head coach
Stephanie Gaitley said, "We are inching closer to playing a complete game. We need to clean up some details on both ends, but we took a step forward today and we'll know how big a step it was by how we respond tomorrow."
Arkansas came into the contest averaging 89.7 points per game, seventh in the country, and Fordham held them to a season-low 71 points, nearly 20 below their average. The Rams made a late charge with 21 points in the fourth quarter, getting within seven points, 64-57, following a Cavanaugh jumper, but the Razorbacks were able to take advantage of some miscues and hit 8-of-12 free throws down the stretch.
Cavanaugh kicked off the contest with a corner three on the very first possession. The two schools traded baskets with the Rams maintain their advantage, holding a 9-8 lead at the media timeout through an
Anna DeWolfe jumper, but were held scoreless over the remaining four-plus minutes as the Razorbacks took a 16-9 lead into the second through a pair of Amber Ramirez threes. The Rams kept within striking distance in the second and turned a 13-point deficit into six with a 7-0 run to make it 29-23 with two minutes to play. Downey, Karpell, and Jillings combined for the run. However, the lead ballooned back to 11 through two free throws by Chelsea Dungee and a late three by Ramirez.
Arkansas was shooting just 27.3% in the first half, including 18.8% in the second period, but were able to get to the line a bunch, hitting 9-of-13 from the stripe.
The Razorbacks took the third period, 21-15, and saw their lead grow to as high as 20 late in the period, 53-33, but Fordham rallied to create an exciting finish. DeWolfe banked in a clutch three after that and Downey found
Megan Jonassen open under the basket with a quick one-touch pass to the sophomore for the final bucket of the period, the score 55-38. Fordham's shots finally started to fall in the first five minutes of the fourth as the Rams enjoyed a 15-4 run to get within six, 59-53. DeWolfe hit a pair of clutch threes and Cavanaugh came alive for nine points, as well. A hook shot by Downey in the lane capped the run. Taylah Thomas stopped the run with a three-point play and had a chance at another following a Cavanaugh jumper but Thomas missed the free throw. Arkansas saw out the contest from the line, while the Rams were held to just two field goals over the final two minutes, while committing three turnovers.
Cavanaugh matched her career-high of 12 rebounds, notching her sixth career double-double and first this year, scoring 19 points on 6-of-17 shooting. The redshirt junior added a team-high two steals plus two assists over 39 minutes. Finishing in double figures, as well, were Downey, with 13, and DeWolfe, with 12. The former chipped in five boards, an assist, block, and steal, while the latter added four rebounds and a team-best three dimes.
Fordham matched its season-high with 41 rebounds but also matched its season-high of 17 turnovers. The Rams shot 35.6% from the field overall but struggled from long distance, hitting just 6-of-26 threes. They did hit 11-of-13 free throws, though, and are shooting 79.7% on the year.
The Rams play Lehigh tomorrow at 4 p.m. to wrap up action in the Bahamas.
