BRONX, N.Y. – For the second time in as many games to open the season, graduate transfer Emy Hayford tallied a new career-high with 22 points Friday night as Fordham University women's basketball defeated UAlbany 66-63 at the Rose Hill Gym. A nail-biter from start to finish neither side would ever lead by more than five points, with the Rams pulling away with clutch free throws down the stretch.
The Rams shot 14-18 for the contest from the charity stripe, including an impressive 8-11 at the line in the final 10 minutes. Hayford, who went a perfect 4-4 on her free throw attempts, finished as one of three players in double figures, while also contributing three rebounds, 2 assists and a pair of blocks. Taylor Donaldson would tally 14 points, along with three steals and two boards, while Aminata Ly would score 10 on 4-5 shooting from the field.
Matching one another on the boards 29 apiece, the two sides finished nearly even in the assist column, but it was two key places in the game where the Rams' made the mark to stay within the fight. Outscoring the Great Danes a whopping 34-14 inside the paint, Fordham also forced 17 turnovers, which included 10 steals, the second straight game with double-digit steals.
In a game that saw the lead change hands 24 times along with 11 ties, UAlbany would take a slim lead after four straight points by the Rams out of the gates. Hayford would tally six of 22 in the opening frame, tallying 15 in the first half, as the Great Danes took a one point lead out of the first 10 minutes of action.
The second quarter would see the two sides draw level just before the media timeout at 27, before a nearly three minute scoring drought where neither side connected from the field. Six baskets would be made by the teams in the final 2:07 of the half, with Fordham taking as much as a five-point advantage, before UAlbany sent the game to the break level at 34.
Out of halftime, the Great Danes would take a four point lead early, but the Rams would take back the lead before each of the two electronic stoppages in the quarter. Leading with 4:15 to go, just two baskets would be scored in the final stages of the period, ending with the teams level now at 47-all with 10 minutes to play.
After trading point for point for most of the quarter, McGurk would knock down a big three pointer with less than three minutes to go to take a one point lead. After a two-point basket by UAlbany, Donaldson would tie the game and then give Fordham the lead with a pair of free throws to make it 59-58, and would hold off the Great Danes with 5-6 shooting at the line in the final minute of play, despite two makes late by the visitors.
The win gives Fordham its second victory to open the 2023-24 campaign and first win over a Division I opponent. The Rams will have a quick turnaround for their next game as they head to Miami for a meeting with Hurricanes Sunday afternoon at 2:00 p.m.
