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Bronx, N.Y. – The Fordham women's basketball team got back in the win column, after 13 days and two game cancellations, thanks in part to a career-high 34 points from sophomore captain
Anna DeWolfe and a season-high team-wide 53.2% conversion rate from the field, the fifth-highest number in the past five seasons. The Rams improve to 2-1 overall, while Hofstra falls to 2-4.
"These have been challenging times for everyone, but I am super proud of our staff and team for staying together and growing through adversity. Great win!" said head coach
Stephanie Gaitley, who was absent from the Rose Hill Gym due to COVID-19 quarantine protocols.
With Gaitley unavailable,
Valerie Nainima, who has either played or worked under Gaitley for nearly a decade, was named acting head coach, though she was assisted by
Sonia Burke,
Candice Green, and the entire staff. Things went pretty well for Nainima and company as the Rams never trailed in the contest and led by as much as 18 early in the fourth quarter.
DeWolfe's 34 points came on an uber-efficient 11-of-15 shooting, 4-of-6 from deep and a perfect 8-of-8 from the charity stripe. All but the field goal attempts and three-point attempts are new or matched career-bests. The sophomore also dished out a team-high four assists and recorded a steal over 38 minutes. Junior
Kaitlyn Downey made it three straight games with double-digit rebounds, tallying 10, adding three assists, two steals and a block, over 34 minutes, while
Megan Jonassen, making her first start of the year, recorded six points, six rebounds, and a steal across 28 minutes. Senior
Kendell Heremaia enjoyed a solid game, as well, with 15 points, nine rebounds, two assists, and a block, while classmate
Ralene Kwiatkowski checked in late to convert an and-one and a layup for five points in two minutes.
The Rams kicked off the game by forcing the Pride into a shot clock violation on their opening possession, while Heremaia drained a three on the other end, which nearly proved to be all Fordham needed on the night; the go-ahead basket came early in the second when DeWolfe's layup broke a brief 21-21 tie. The Cumberland, Maine native scored the first of her 11 baskets on a midrange jumper and ended up scoring her team's next nine points before
Katie McLoughlin nailed a triple to put the Rams up nine, 15-6, at the five minute mark. Hofstra rallied for six unanswered points by McLoughlin found Heremaia behind the arc to double the deficit, though the visitors would get within four by the end of the period, 21-17, following a last-second Jaala Henry layup.
Following the go-ahead DeWolfe make, freshman
Matilda Flood recorded her first collegiate bucket, grabbing an offensive board and laying the ball back in. The next three Rams buckets were from long range, one each for DeWolfe, Heremaia, and Flood, and Jonassen with an easy layup from DeWolfe following a Downey steal made it a double-digit game for the first time, 36-25.
Hofstra got within six again, 38-32, to start the second half, leading to a Fordham timeout, but four minutes later, the Rams were back with a double figure lead for good, 46-34, following another DeWolfe triple. Fordham began the fourth with a DeWolfe three and a pair of free throws from Heremaia to lead by 18, 59-41, a margin the hosts would continue to lead by several times in the period. Kwiatkowski came in for DeWolfe and threw her bench into a frenzy with a three-point play, the first of her career. On the next offensive possession, the senior converted a pass from Flood in the paint.
The Rams converted 25-of-47 attempts on the evening, including 11-of-25 from behind the arc (44.0%) and 11-of-15 from the line (73.3%). The Rams won the battle of the boards, 37-27, but turnovers remain an issue for the squad, with a season-high 20.
Fordham is right back in action inside the Rose Hill Gym when they host Davidson to begin Atlantic 10 play on Monday at noon.
