Women's Basketball Returns to Action with 63-36 Win over Fairleigh Dickinson

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Bronx, N.Y. – It had been exactly three weeks since Fordham women's basketball last stepped onto the court in competitive action, with three games postponed, but the Rams were able to reschedule a meeting with Fairleigh Dickinson on Sunday and wrapped up nonconference action with a 63-36 victory, the second straight game holding an opponent to that point total, tied for sixth-fewest in program history. With the win, Fordham improves to 9-3 overall, while the Knights fall to 5-7.
 
"Took a little to find our rhythm but we played a solid first half on defense." Head coach Stephanie Gaitley, "Really proud of our 9-3 out-of-conference record with the most difficult schedule in my career! Terrific group of kids who have worked hard throughout a lot of ups and downs!"
 
The opening quarter showed rust for both squads, with FDU outscoring Fordham, 10-8, on 30.8% shooting to the latter's 20.0% mark. The Knights' Devyn Scott hit a jumper to open the second period, making it a four-point advantage, but starting with Anna DeWolfe's three pointer at the seven-minute mark, it was nearly all Fordham from that point on. That make tied the game up, 16-16, and just 25 seconds later, a Megan Jonassen jumper proved to be the go-ahead basket. Madison Stanley was able to sink a three-point attempt with three minutes left in the half to cut the deficit to one, but the Rams closed on a 10-0 run that extended to 21-0 with Fordham scoring 11 unanswered to begin the second half.
 
Celia Carbonell stopped the drought with a long-range make and Madeline Selvaggi hit a pair of free throws for a quick 4-0 run. Fordham finished the third quarter with a 9-0 run following a Stanley layup, leading, 53-26. The lead cracked the 30-point barrier for the first time on Kaitlyn Downey's layup before Dahomee Forgues snapped a 13-0 run with a jumper. The lead would reach 31 on two more occasions before settling in the upper 20's.
 
DeWolfe led the way with 23 points on 10-of-20 shooting, with three threes, three steals, two assists, a block, and a rebound over just 31 minutes. Asiah Dingle chipped in 14 points on 7-of-13 shooting while sharing the team-lead of five assists with Sarah Karpell, who made her first start of the season, also notching three steals. Jonassen added a season-high 12 points, five rebounds, and a pair of steals, while Downey finished with five points, seven rebounds, three dimes, and a steal over 20 minutes. Off the bench, Matilda Flood led the Rams with a career-high nine boards, four on the offensive end, to go with three points and a steal over 17 minutes. Maranda Nyborg played 24 minutes off the pine and racked up three blocks, a steal, four points, three rebounds, and a pair of assists.
 
Fordham finished the game shooting 43.5% overall, shooting over 60% in the middle two quarters, while the defense racked up 12 steals and four blocks. The Rams scored 28 points off turnovers to FDU's nine and kept the visitors to 10 or fewer points in every period.
 
The Rams open up Atlantic 10 play at home on Wednesday night at 7 p.m. against Saint Louis on ESPN+ and WFUV.