Amherst, Mass. – An impressive first half was outdone by a sluggish third quarter in Fordham's loss at Massachusetts, 61-56. With the loss, which snapped a four-game win streak, the Rams fall to 6-3 overall and 3-2 in conference play, while the Minutewomen improve to 8-2 and 4-1, respectively.
"Tough loss against a tough UMass team." Head coach
Stephanie Gaitley said, "The kids played hard. We need to learn from this and be ready for our next road game at Dayton."
Fordham did not shoot the lights out in the first half, making 35.3% of its attempts, but did hit 6-of-13 three-point attempts, including 3-of-4 to begin the game. Paired with the Rams' typically stout defense and nearly double figure rebounds from both
Kaitlyn Downey and
Megan Jonassen, the visitors had a 31-24 lead at halftime.
The Minutewomen came out of the break firing, though, using an 11-3 run to take their first lead since the opening basket of the game, 35-34, and retaking the lead for good moments later through a Sam Breen jumper after Jonassen free throws had briefly put Fordham back up. Fordham gave up just 15 points in the frame but could only muster seven on the other end. UMass pushed the lead up to double digits with less than two minutes to play but the Rams wouldn't go quietly, finishing the game on a 10-4 run.
Fordham was led by
Anna DeWolfe's seventh game of 20 points or better, finishing with 21, plus three assists over 39 minutes. Downey picked up her fourth double-double of the year with 14 points and 10 rebounds, plus three dimes, while Jonassen went off over a career-high 38 minutes, piling up a personal-best 14 boards (eight offensive) to go with six points, two steals, and a block.
The Rams won the rebounding battle yet again, 44-42, but shot just 30.8% as a group, though they did hit double-digit threes for a second straight game and third time this year (10-of-23). However, the referees' whistles were constantly blowing as they called 24 fouls on Fordham, leading to an 18-of-30 line from the Minutewomen from the charity stripe. The Rams also committed 17 turnovers.
Fordham's game at Saint Louis, originally scheduled for this Thursday, has been postponed. The Rams will next play at Dayton this Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m.
