PITTSBURGH, PA. – It may have been just the first game of Atlantic 10 Conference play, but the Rams and Dukes made it feel like a postseason game, trading blows in the closing seconds, and going to overtime Tuesday afternoon. Fordham University women's basketball got the stop they needed in regulation, but fell in a heartbreaker, 75-73 in overtime Tuesday night.
Battling back from a double-digit deficit to start the fourth quarter, Fordham forced the extra period in their conference opener, one of just two games to open league play ahead of the holiday break. Scoring the final bucket in regulation, Fordham outscored the Dukes 28-12 in the fourth, getting a stop in the closing seconds to extend the game.
A-10 Player of the Week Taylor Donaldson would lead the way once again for the Rams, scoring 25 points and pulling down eight rebounds, in addition to four steals and a pair of assists. Four players would finish in double figures on the visiting side, including Emy Hayford who tallied 17 points and six boards, while also dishing four assists and picking four steals.
Seven different players finished the game with at least three rebounds including three with six apiece, while Maranda Nyborg added five and 13 points, and Mandy McGurk tallied 14 points and four boards along with two steals. As a team the Rams assisted on 14 of 27 made shots and forced 16 turnovers by Duquesne in the game.
A back and forth start to the contest saw Fordham break out in front just ahead of the media timeout in the opening quarter, holding a three point edge. From there the Rams would stretch their advantage to as much as five, closing the quarter up 17-12. Duquesne would work their way back into the game in the second, taking a slim one-point lead into the locker room.
Out of halftime the home side would try to break away on multiple occasions, but Fordham was able to keep the Dukes at bay for much of the frame. The Dukes would however extend their biggest lead of the game with a 16 point lead as the quarter closed.
A resilient Fordham team would battle back from that deficit, opening the fourth quarter on a 13-1 run to bring themselves within four with 7:26 to play in regulation. Duquesne would try to hold off Fordham late, but the Rams managed to draw level with the final basket of the quarter with 45 seconds to play, and eventually forcing the overtime period.
With the straggler conference date behind them, Fordham women's basketball continue a week of three straight road games as they dip back into non-conference play with a trip to Siena. The first of two straight MAAC opponents on the docket, the Rams will battle the Saints Thursday night in Loudonville, N.Y. at 7:00 p.m.
