Charlotte, N.C. – The Fordham women's basketball team's 2020-21 campaign came to an end on Saturday in the second round of the WNIT, falling to Ohio, 81-64. The Rams will finish the stop-start year with a 12-6 overall record, 8-2 in Atlantic 10 play.
"Not a picture-perfect ending but I'm super proud of the resilience of this group. A big thank you to our seniors – Katie, Murph, and Ralo – who will now graduate with an A-10 Championship and three postseason appearances." Head coach
Stephanie Gaitley said, "A lot to be proud of and a bright future ahead!"
The Rams overcame a slow start to the contest to trail by six over the final three frames, including outscoring the Bobcats in the fourth. Senior
Kendell Heremaia again flirted with a triple-double, posting a 20-point, 11-rebound double-double, with seven assists, plus two steals, over 39 minutes, which matched her career-high. She finishes her senior campaign eighth all-time with 170 career threes after hitting five against Ohio, one shy of Abigail Corning and seventh. She is also 26 points away from 1,000 for her career.
Anna DeWolfe chipped in 18 points before leaving due to an injury in her 50
th consecutive start to begin her Fordham career.
Kaitlyn Downey and
Megan Jonassen each grabbed seven rebounds, with all seven come on the offensive glass for Jonassen to go with five points, while Downey scored 12. Freshman
Matilda Flood notched a block and steal over 16 minutes off the bench, plus three offensive boards, while
Ralene Kwiatkowski scored a season-high five points on a jumper and a traditional three-point play. Senior
Lauren Murphy made her season debut in the game and converted a basket in the paint on a nice move across her four minutes, adding a rebound.
Katie McLoughlin chipped in five points and a steal over 18 minutes in her 18
th straight start and 66
th career appearance.
Fordham's WNIT berth was its fifth in the past nine years under Coach Gaitley, though that number would be six if COVID-19 hadn't ended last year's season prior to the postseason. The Rams have now earned postseason berths in seven (eight*) of those nine years. The Rams' .667 win percentage is also the fourth-highest in the past decade. Their .800 win percentage in league action is second-highest.
