Bronx, N.Y. – It had been nearly eight years since Fordham women's basketball had gone an entire game without hitting a three-pointer but despite missing on their 11 attempts, the Rams still started Atlantic 10 play with a win by shooting 56.0% inside the arc en route to a 67-64 victory over Davidson on New Year's Day. Overall, Fordham improves to 9-5.
The last time the Rams had failed to knock down a long-range make was against La Salle on February 15, 2014. Coincidentally, the last time the offense had taken fewer than 11 attempts from behind the arc was also against the Explorers but on February 13, 2018. They had come into Sunday's contest leading the Atlantic 10 with 9.1 threes per game, ranked 12
th nationally. Still, the gameplan against the Wildcats was to score inside and score the offense did as they converted 28-of-50 two-point chances for 56 points, led by
Anna DeWolfe's game-high 25 points, 11-of-15 shooting inside the perimeter, and
Jada Dapaa's first Fordham double-double of 10 points on 5-of-8 shooting and 12 rebounds.
Davidson started the game out hot, scoring eight unanswered points to force an early home timeout, and led, 15-8, after the opening 10 minutes. The Wildcats, led by Elle Sutphin and Suzi-Rose Deegan, shot 50% from the field in the frame, while the Rams converted just 4-of-14 attempts. The hosts rebounded with a 23-point second quarter and trailed by just three, 34-31, at the interval. An offensive second period bled into a defensive third quarter, with the Rams winning the latter battle, 15-10, to hold a slim advantage heading to the fourth. Fordham tied the game up on two occasions in the third before a
Kaitlyn Downey free throw put them ahead for the first time all game, 40-39, and the team would lead, 46-44, by period's end.b
DeWolfe took over in the fourth quarter, scoring 14 of the team's 21 points on 6-of-8 shooting with two free throws. Davidson made several important shots that tied the game three times, the last coming with 1:48 to play on a pair of Chloe Welch free throws to make it 59-59. On the next possession, DeWolfe knocked down a midrange jumper that proved to be the winning basket. A pair of missed free throws by Welch with 26 seconds remaining preceded a pair of freebies by Downey. The Wildcats would not go away as Deegan hit two layups with under 20 seconds to play, the latter ending up as a three-point play to cut the deficit to one, 65-64. However,
Sarah Karpell found DeWolfe streaking alone to the basket with several seconds left to easily convert the game's final attempt.
Joining DeWolfe and Dapaa in double figures was Dingle, who scored 19 points on 7-of-17 shooting with five rebounds, four steals, and two assists over 38 minutes. Downey handed out a game-high six assists to go with seven points, five boards, and two steals, while Karpell finished with three assists and
Megan Jonassen chipped in four points and five boards.
Matilda Flood came through with a clutch basket late, two rebounds, and a big block, as well, in 16 minutes. Downey was honored pregame for scoring her 1,000th career point in November at Princeton and during Sunday's game, she ascended to 20th all-time, passing Christie Kennedy ('92) and Heather Donlon ('93).
The Rams outshot the Wildcats, 45.9% to 44.1%, and held a slim margin on the glass, 36-35, with both teams grabbing five offensive rebounds. Fordham also shot 11-of-14 from the free-throw line.
The squad has a quick turnaround before hosting VCU this Wednesday at noon in the team's annual Kids Day event. ESPN+ and WFUV will carry live coverage.
Gallery: (1-1-2023) WBB vs. Davidson
