Bronx, N.Y. – Fordham women's basketball made a furious comeback against league-leading Dayton on Saturday, with a 15-2 run over the game's final seven minutes, but the rally fell just short in an eventual 48-47 loss. With the result, the Rams fall to 16-8 overall and 7-5 in Atlantic 10 play, while the Flyers improve to 21-4 and 12-1, respectively.
Today's contest will re-air on SNY tonight at 9 p.m. and tomorrow at 4:30 p.m.
Buoyed by nine points by junior
Anna DeWolfe, four offensive rebounds, three by freshman
Millie Prior, and a pair of steals, the Rams nearly overcame a sluggish beginning to the contest. The defense held the Flyers scoreless all the way up until a Jenna Giacone layup with just under a minute to play. On the other end, DeWolfe drilled a three to cross the 20-point threshold and prompting Dayton into a timeout as the Rose Hill Gym erupted, the first game with fans in attendance in over two months.
Out of the break, Giacone missed her midrange attempt but an offensive breakdown led to Dayton regaining possession. During the in-bound play,
Kaitlyn Downey intentionally picked up her fifth foul to put Brynn Shoup-Hill at the free-throw line. Shoup-Hill missed both free throws and Fordham called timeout, giving the hosts one final possession with two seconds left on the clock. DeWolfe had a decent look with a floater in traffic but her effort was just off.
DeWolfe finished with a game-high 21 points over 39 minutes.
Kendell Heremaia added 10 points, seven rebounds, and a game-high three steals over 25 minutes.
Asiah Dingle racked up a season-high six assists to go with five rebounds, three points, and two steals over 32 minutes, while the combination of Downey and
Megan Jonassen chipped in seven points and nine rebounds. Off the bench, Prior,
Colleen McQuillen, and
Matilda Flood provided some sparks. Prior hauled in six of her seven boards on the offensive glass, Flood grabbed five caroms, two on the offensive end, while McQuillen checked into the game in the second half and immediately provided offense with a wide-open three and a midrange jumper, matching her season-high of five points over six minutes.
The Rams outrebounded the Flyers, 37-35, including a 15-7 margin on the offensive glass, while forcing Dayton into 18 turnovers compared to 15 of their own. However, Fordham shot 29.5% from the floor, 18.8% from distance, and a season-low 31.3% from the free-throw line on 16 attempts. Still, the defense held the Flyers offense to marks of 36.0% and 21.4%, respectively, while the visitors also struggled from the line with 52.9% on 17 attempts.
Fordham is back in action at Richmond on Wednesday night at 6 p.m. on ESPN+ and WFUV.
Gallery: (2-19-2022) Women's Basketball vs. Dayton (2/19/22)
