Late DeWolfe Three Lifts Women's Basketball Past George Washington

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Bronx, N.Y. – A slow-shooting third period led to a tight game late, but the Fordham women's basketball team made its baskets when it counted down the stretch to pick up a third straight win overall and second straight in Atlantic 10 play. The Rams improve to 5-2 on the year and 2-1 in league action, while the Colonials fall to 3-5 and 0-2, respectively.  
 
"GREAT team win! We had some nice individual performances but it came down to staying together defensively." Coach Gaitley said, "We made key plays when we needed to. So proud of our kids protecting home court and buying into defense and rebounding!"
 
Sunday's contest was a very evenly matched affair, with each team responding to the other. The Fordham defense allowed just 3-of-16 shooting in the opening period to its opponent, but the Colonials held the Rams without a two-point field goal in the quarter, hitting 4-of-6 three-point attempts and a pair of free throws instead to lead, 14-8. Both teams shot 50.0% or better in the second quarter. A late flurry from the Colonials tied the game up three times in the fourth period, but it was sophomore Anna DeWolfe's go-ahead corner three that put the hosts up for good, 47-44, with 54 seconds to play.
 
George Washington kicked things off with the game's first basket through an Ali Brigham layup. Senior Katie McLoughlin rattled in two straight three-point attempts to take a quick 6-2 lead and two more timely back-to-back triples, this time by Kendell Heremaia and then DeWolfe made it a 12-6 game later in the quarter. The Rams nearly got to a double-digit lead through two Kaitlyn Downey threes and a DeWolfe jumper in between, the first two-point basket of the game for Fordham, but the Colonials continued to fight, even getting within two, 26-24, on a Caranda Perea make from distance. Megan Jonassen capped the half's scoring with a layup off a nice feed from Heremaia.
 
The Rams made just three field goals in the third but two were from behind the arc, taking a defensive frame, 8-6, to lead, 36-30, heading to the final 10 minutes. Gaitley was forced to take a timeout four minutes in following six straight points from Brigham down low to knot the game up at 36-all. Out of the break, Heremaia and DeWolfe each notched a mid-range make to give their team some cushion but a Neila Luma free throw and, moments later, a Gabby Nikitinaite triple made it a tie game once more.
 
On the next possession, the Rams turned the ball over and George Washington earned its first lead since the opening basket through a Luma and-one play. It was Heremaia and DeWolfe yet again to hit clutch shots, the former gliding to the rim for a tough layup and the later hitting a stepback jumper to retake the lead, 44-43. With the Colonials in the bonus, Aurea Gingras went to the line with a chance to give the visitors a lead, but hit just 1-of-2. Two minutes of stout defense and scoreless ball led to DeWolfe hitting a late defended three in the corner for the win. On the other end, Jonassen came up with a big steal of Perea to give the Rams the ball. Although Perea would hit a three to get within two, 49-47, following two Heremaia makes at the line, Fordham was able to control the ball and DeWolfe and Downey each hit a pair of free throws to see out the victory, the team's third straight holding an opponent under 50 points.
 
DeWolfe notched her fifth game with 20 or more points, finishing with 21 on 7-of-19 shooting and adding a season-high five dimes over all 40 minutes. Heremaia added 12 points, seven boards, four assists, and a steal, while Downey grabbed 18 rebounds to go with 10 points for her fifth career double-double, also adding two steals and a block. Jonassen hauled in 4-of-5 rebounds on the offensive end, while McLoughlin finished with six points.
 
The Rams were outshot 35.2% to 34.0% but made 9-of-24 from behind the arc to George Washington's 4-of-11, also hitting all eight free-throw attempts. For the seventh straight game to begin the year, Fordham has outrebounded its opponent, this time, 36-26, the sixth time of seven the margin has been in double figures.
 
Following a drawn-out, five-game home stretch, Fordham now heads to the road for four straight. First up is Rhode Island this Friday, January 8, at 4 p.m. followed by Massachusetts on Sunday at 1 p.m.