Women's Basketball Nearly Sets School Points Allowed Record in 30-Point Win over George Mason

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Bronx, N.Y. – New year, same Fordham defense. The Rams held George Mason to just 32 points on Friday afternoon, the second-fewest ever allowed in program history since 1977. Fordham picked up its first Atlantic 10 win of the new year, 62-32, and improve to 4-2 overall and 1-1 in league action. The Patriots fall to 3-5 and 0-1, respectively.
 
"Super proud of our team effort today," Head coach Stephanie Gaitley said, "We were really locked into our defense and that set the tone. Great effort from Sarah and Meg, but a total team win. Great way to start off 2021!"
 
Fordham set the tone early, holding the visitors to just three points over the opening 13 minutes. Sophomore Anna DeWolfe and senior Kendell Heremaia combined for 33 points, more than the Patriots scored on the day. George Mason never scored more than 12 points in any period and were it not for Jazmyn Doster's last-minute layup, the Rams would've had a new school record.
 
For the third time this season, Fordham led from start to finish. DeWolfe notched a steal on the game's opening possession and Kaitlyn Downey's offensive board, one of 14 for the team, led to a Megan Jonassen layup, which proved to be the go-ahead basket. George Mason got within one, 4-3, a little less than five minutes in the game on a three-point play from Marika Korpinen. Out of the first media timeout, DeWolfe and Heremaia went back-to-back from long range, followed by a Downey jumper that capped an 11-0 run to finish the opening frame.
 
That run stretched to 13 when DeWolfe hit a turnaround jumper in the lane, but Jordan Wakefield responded with a three to stop the slide. The lead jumped to 19 following four made three-pointers in a row by Fordham, two by Heremaia and one apiece from Downey and Sarah Karpell. A late DeWolfe floater made it 32-11 heading into the interval. The lead never dropped again below 20 following another Heremaia triple early in the third quarter, and touched 30 twice late in the contest following free throws by Ralene Kwiatkowski.
 
The Rams shot 39.7% as a group, including 32.3% from distance, and 6-of-9 from the charity stripe. Mason converted just 12-of-57 attempts, including 4-of-15 from behind the arc, and 4-of-7 from the line. Fordham committed two more turnovers, 12-10, but dominated on the glass, 45-28, a new season-high, including 14 offensive rebounds.
 
DeWolfe led the way yet again with a game-high 18 points on 8-of-20 shooting to go with four rebounds, three assists, and two steals over 37 minutes. Heremaia hit 5-of-13 shots, four coming behind the arc, to finish with 15 points and six boards. Jonassen reached double-digit rebounds for a second time this year, hauling in 10, four offensive, to go with six points, a steal, and three blocks, the latter matching a career-high. Downey chipped in seven points, nine rebounds, and a block, while Karpell netted six points on a personal-best two threes. Freshmen Matilda Flood and Maranda Nyborg each added three points, the former hauling in 4-of-6 rebounds on the offensive end, while Kwiatkowski finished with four points and a steal in three minutes.
 
Fordham next hosts George Washington this Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. CBS Sports Network and WFUV will carry live coverage.