Newport News, Va. – Redshirt sophomore
Bre Cavanaugh and senior
Mary Goulding have been named to the Atlantic 10 All-Conference First Team, the league announced on Thursday morning, with the latter earning All-Academic honors, as well. They are the first Fordham teammates to earn Atlantic 10 First Team distinction in the same year and the third set of teammates in program history.
"This team has embodied the true meaning of 'team' since day one last summer," Head coach
Stephanie Gaitley said, "Their unselfishness and their ability to stay together has guided them through this season's highs and lows. It's amazing what you can accomplish when no one cares who gets the credit. They are a pleasure to coach and I look forward to seeing them reach even greater heights."
Cavanaugh leads the Rams and is second in the conference with 16.7 points per game this year. She has added 6.5 rebounds per game, is second on the team with 28 steals, fourth with 71 assists on the year, and has hit a team-high 64 threes, one off the top-10 for a single campaign. Cavanaugh has started all 30 contests this year and is fourth nationally with 38.2 minutes played per game. During conference play, she has led the Rams with 15.2 points per game on 33.9% shooting with 6.3 rebounds, 40 assists, and 11 steals. She is a four-time Atlantic 10 Player of the Week and was also recognized once each as Player of the Week by the NCAA, the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities (AJCU), and the Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association (MBWA), plus an Honorable Mention by ESPNW.
"Bre has improved her overall game and had to be a top candidate for Player of the Year. All her numbers have increased across the board and she has been instrumental in our regular season title."
Goulding leads the Rams in every statistical category besides scoring. The senior is averaging 12.1 points on 47.3% shooting overall and 36.9% from behind the arc, 8.4 rebounds, which ranks third in the conference, and a team-high 85 assists, 34 steals, and seven blocks. She has been even better in league play with a near double-double of 13.4 points and 9.4 rebound. Over the team's nine-game win streak, Goulding is averaging a double-double of 15.2 points and 10.1 rebounds, while shooting 51.0% from the field and 40.0% from deep. She has nine double-doubles on the year and is a three-time A-10 Player of the Week and a one-time AJCU Player of the Week.
"Mary has had a storybook senior year. Her game, her leadership, and her confidence has grown every day. She leads us in every category but scoring. In my opinion, she is the most improved player in the conference."
Cavanaugh and Goulding are the first Fordham teammates in the Atlantic 10 era to both be named to the First Team and third all-time after two instances in the early 1990s when the school was in the Patriot League. It's the fifth time two teammates have earned All-Conference honors. Goulding's All-Academic nod is the seventh in the program's history and she is the second player to do so while being named to the First Team, as well, after fellow New Zealand international Erin Rooney in 2014.
The Rams have now had at least one player be named to an All-Conference team in each of the last seven seasons. Cavanaugh was named to the Second Team and All-Rookie squads a year ago, while the two awards are Goulding's first year-end honors.
The second-seeded Rams will play #10 Massachusetts on Friday at 4:30 p.m. Coverage will be on ESPN+ and WFUVSports.org.
