Richmond, Va. – A torrid first half offensive performance and a full-game stout defensive effort led to a 54-48 wire-to-wire road win at VCU on Saturday afternoon for Fordham women's basketball, making it back-to-back league wins on the road this week. With the win, Fordham improves to 11-4 overall and 2-1 in conference action, while VCU falls to 7-7 and 2-2, respectively.
"I think our home loss to La Salle made us hungry for this road trip." Head coach
Stephanie Gaitley said, "Now we need to take these games and continue to work on playing defense for 40 minutes. Super proud of this group!"
Fordham shot a blistering 57.1% from the floor in the first half while holding the hosts to just 29.0% to take a 38-23 lead into the interval. Both teams scored eight points in the third quarter before VCU outscored the visitors, 17-8, in the fourth to make it a six-point game at the buzzer.
Asiah Dingle led the way offensive with 19 points on an efficient 8-of-12 shooting, adding six rebounds and five assists over a team-high 37 minutes.
Kendell Heremaia put up a 13-point, 12-rebound double-double while ascending three spots on the program all-time rebounding list, finishing the game with 716 to sit solo seventh.
Kaitlyn Downey knocked down 4-of-6 shots for 11 points, while
Anna DeWolfe was held under 10 points for just the second time in her last season and a half, scoring seven but adding four boards, two assists, and a steal.
Sarah Karpell returned from a two-game absence to play 30 minutes off the bench.
Fordham finished the game shooting 43.4% overall but just 22.2% from behind the arc and 4-of-7 from the line, while VCU shot 29.2%, 26.7%, and 6-of-9, respectively. A big rebounding second half by the hosts put them up, 38-37, for the game, with a 20-12 discrepancy on the offensive glass.
Fordham returns home to host George Washington in a nationally televised contest on USA network on Wednesday at 7 p.m. before taking back to the road for two more next weekend.
