Washington, D.C. – After three weeks off, the rust was apparent early for the Fordham women's basketball team, at least offensively. The Rams' defense was game ready, never allowing more than 13 points in any period and busting loose for 21 fourth-quarter points to rally for a 48-43 win. With the nonconference victory, the team's sixth straight overall, Fordham will finish the regular season with an 12-3 record, while the Colonials fall to 8-13.
"It was great to get on the court against a very hot GW team." Head coach
Stephanie Gaitley said, "We were rusty and this game helped us a great deal to work through some things. I'm glad we were able to get this game under our belt!"
Fordham-George Washington games have been typically defensive under Gaitley and Jen Rizzotti – each of the last four games have been 112 points combined or lower, including two below 100, for example – and today was no different. In the first-ever out-of-conference meeting between the two schools, arranged last week, the Rams picked up their fifth straight win over their regional rivals. Senior
Kendell Heremaia scored 14 of her game-high 19 points in the second half, while
Anna DeWolfe scored 10 of her 14 points as Fordham used a 10-2 run in the fourth quarter to wrest the lead away from the hosts.
The Rams led, 10-8, after the opening 10 minutes, leading for most of the frame.
Megan Jonassen kicked the game off with a bucket down low off a nice feed by DeWolfe, while the latter capped the scoring with a nice midrange bucket. Gabby Nikitinaite swung the lead back in the hosts' favor with an and-one three-pointer but Heremaia, from distance, and DeWolfe, from the stripe, regained it for the Rams. Fordham led up until the final seconds when Nikitinaite was fouled behind the arc and converted all three attempts. George Washington led by one, 21-20, at the break.
The Colonials maintained their lead throughout the third period, reaching an apex of six point, 33-27, with a last-second Ali Brigham layup. Heremaia scored five of her team's seven points in the frame. Down six, 35-29, with 8:41 to play, the Rams, led by DeWolfe and Heremaia, made their move. Jumpers by each cut the deficit to two and a DeWolfe triple with exactly five minutes to play put Fordham ahead for good, 36-35, leading into a George Washington timeout and the media break. Heremaia drilled a three two minutes later and a midrange jumper on either side of a Brigham layup and 7-of-8 free-throw shooting from the duo and
Katie McLoughlin kept the Colonials at bay until the final buzzer.
Heremaia shot an efficient 7-of-10 from the floor for her 19 points, including 3-of-6 from downtown, with a game-high eight boards and three steals over 36 minutes. DeWolfe hit 3-of-12 for her 14 points and never left the floor in the game. McLoughlin finished with six points, three boards, and an assist and a steal, while
Matilda Flood came off the bench for five points and a rebound and Jonassen tied for the game-high with two assists to go with five rebounds and four points.
Fordham outshot the Colonials overall, 42.1% to 37.2%, but struggled from distance, shooting 4-of-18, the second-fewest makes this season. The Rams held George Washington to just one long-range make on 10 attempts, though, tied for the fewest by an opponent. The two teams combined for 37 turnovers with Fordham recording 19, while each team had a season-high nine steals.
The regular season is now over and the Rams head into next week's Atlantic 10 Championship as the #2 seed. They will play the winner of #7 Massachusetts and #10 Saint Joseph's next Friday, March 12, at 5 p.m. ESPN+ and WFUV will carry live coverage.
