Bronx, N.Y. – Fordham women's basketball honored eight graduating members of the Class of 2023 before Sunday afternoon's contest, celebrating the careers of
Chloe Chaffin,
Jada Dapaa,
Kate Deutsch,
Anna DeWolfe,
Asiah Dingle,
Kaitlyn Downey,
Megan Jonassen, and
Sarah Karpell. The Rams fell in their penultimate home game of the regular season, though, 74-63, to George Mason. With the loss, Fordham falls to 16-11 overall and 8-6 in league play, while the Patriots improve to 14-14 and 7-8, respectively.
George Mason led for nearly the entire contest, steadily building its lead in the first half while the hosts struggled with their shot. Before they finished the first half on a 9-4 run, the Rams had converted just 4-of-26 attempts from the floor in the contest, though they were hitting their free throws, finishing the half 9-of-10 from the line and eventually 16-of-17 from the stripe for the contest.
A Sonia Smith three to begin the second half brought the deficit back to double figures, 38-27, but Fordham clawed its way back to get within three on two occasions in the third quarter. The first came after a
Matilda Flood triple to cap an 11-3 run with 3:19 to play, and again two minutes later on a Dingle steal and finish. A three from Paula Suarez and a pair of free throws each way made it a six-point game, 53-47, entering the final frame.
The two teams exchanged baskets to open a hectic fourth quarter, DeWolfe ripping a midrange jumper then Downey doing the same after a Smith floater. DeWolfe stole the ball from Taylor Jameson and fed Dingle for two to get within two, 55-53, but Smith answered with another make on the other end. A pair of freebies from Dingle got Fordham within two once again with 6:42 to play, but Jameson's three towards the end of the shot clock down the other side provided breathing room once again. DeWolfe and Downey combined for two quick-fire buckets, the first a DeWolfe layup from Downey and then a Downey steal and DeWolfe fastbreak make, the latter making it a 62-59 game and prompting George Mason into a timeout. Out of the break, however, misses and turnovers piled up to go with Patriot points as the visitors saw out the win.
Dingle finished with a game-high 20 points, hitting 10-of-10 free throws, with five steals, two rebounds, and two assists across 39 minutes. DeWolfe scored 17 with four boards, two dimes, two steals, and a block, and Downey chipped in 12 points, seven rebounds, three thefts, two assists, and a block. Dapaa corralled five of her team-high eight rebounds on the offensive glass to go with six points, while
Matilda Flood produced five points, four boards, and an assist in 27 minutes off the bench.
The Rams shoot 33.3% from the field and just 3-of-20 from behind the arc, while Mason shot 49.1% and 42.9%, respectively. The Patriots did commit 21 turnovers to Fordham's 14, but they also had 13 assists to the Rams' nine. Despite losing the rebounding battle, 37-34, the Rams had more offensive boards, 14-6, and produced 11 steals that led to 25 points.
Fordham hosts Rhode Island in another critical Atlantic 10 battle on Wednesday night at 7 p.m. on SNY, ESPN+, and WFUV in the regular season home finale.
