NEW YORK – returning to the friendly confines of the Rose Hill Gymnasium Friday night, Fordham University women's basketball hosts Saint Peter's at 7:00 p.m.
Turn Up and Tune In
The Rams take on the Peacocks live on ESPN+ and locally on SNY, with Andrew Bogusch and Edona Thaqi on the call. WFUV will carry the radio call with Chris Carrino, Tucker Austin, and Gabby Price covering the action on YouTube Live.
Matchup Notes
Despite the Peacocks holding a 27-9 lead in the all-time series, it's been Fordham gaining the upper hand of late, winners of the last four contests between the two sides. The last victory for Saint Peter's came on Dec. 21, 2000, a three point win in Jersey City, the final win in what was a seven game unbeaten streak against the Rams for the Peacocks. After a nine year hiatus in the matchup, the two would face off in back-to-back seasons in 2009 and 2010, with Fordham taking a win at both teams' home sites, before wins in each of the two most recent seasons.
Last time the Rams faced the Peacocks was less than a year ago, Fordham rolled to a 70-43 win last season, in what would be a career-night for Taylor Donaldson, as she led the Maroon and White with a personal best, 35 points, including seven makes from beyond the arc. Friday's matchup marks the fourth straight meeting between the two teams at the Rose Hill Gym, with the last game played in Jersey City being held back in 2010.
About Saint Peter's
Seeking their first win of the young season, Saint Peter's fell at St. John's, 80-39 in Queens, before a 64-42 loss last time out at Army. The Peacocks open the year with six straight games on the road, not hosting a home game until Dec. 1. Fatmata Janneh leads her side into the Friday night clash with the Rams averaging 15.5 points per game through the first week of the season, while also pacing the rebounding efforts averaging 6.5 per game.
On the Glass
With 15 rebounds through the first three games, Irene Murua leads the Rams, averaging 6.7 rebounds/game, followed closely by Karissa Antoine, collecting 13 off the Fordham bench to average 4.3 through the first games of her collegiate career. Murua has also been crucial in giving her team extra opportunities, pulling down 3.7 rebounds/game on just the offensive end, with 11 already this season.
Monday's opener saw the Rams pull down 33 rebounds, with a +10 margin on the boards over Adelphi. A common theme from Coach Mitchell's first year at the helm, 9-of-10 players who saw action against the Panthers would collect multiple rebounds, split nearly evenly amongst the team.
In their second night of action against Cal St. Fullerton, the Rams upped their rebounding total to 44, including 16 on the offensive glass, including six in the fourth quarter. That number marked the fifth time in the last six games, dating back to last season, that the Rams have tallied at least 15 offensive boards, starting that stretch on Feb. 21, 2024 against Saint Louis.
You Shall Not Pass
Davis paces that group, averaging 2.3 steals/game in the early going, with Omoshola averaging 1.7/game, ahead of a trio of Fordham players averaging 1.3/game apiece. Chae Harris leads the Rams with three blocked shots this season, an even 1.0/game average, ahead of two from Miya Giles-Jones.
Last season, Fordham as a team led the Atlantic 10 in steals per game with 9.7 as a team for the year, with five different players averaging at least 1.3 steals per game. In their first action of the 2024-25 campaign, the Maroon and White collected 13 steals led by a career-high five from Taya Davis, leading six different Rams to collect at least one in last Monday's meeting with Adelphi.
The Maroon and White would match that total in Friday's meeting with Cal St. Fullerton, collecting another 13 steals, while forcing the Titans into 19 turnovers for the game. Both Precious Omoshola and Kaila Berry set a new career-high with four steals apiece, ahead of three from Camila De Pool, also a career-best for the Rams' rookie.
Efficiency Matters
Entering the weekend, the Rams have three players shooting over 50% from the field with at least nine shot attempts, led by Kaila Berry on a calm 6-of-9 shooting for a 66.7% average from the floor to open the year. Omoshola has shot 8-of-13 from the floor, a 61.5% shooting clip, while Murua has tallied an even 50% shooting week in her first two games in Maroon and White, shooting 9-of-18.
Chae Harris paces the Rams' offense averaging 9.7 points per game, after an 18-point performance in her Fordham debut last Monday, including 3-of-7 shooting from three-point range. Murua sits just behind her at 8.3 points per game, followed by Ferguson at 9.0 points per game.
Gotta Get Low, Low, Low
The Maroon and White would own the area below the basket, outscoring Cal State Fullerton 42-12 in the paint Friday night, with Fordham never trailing in the game at any point, and only allowing the Titans to tie the score on three occasions.
A dominant effort down low to start the second half, the Maroon and White would outscore the Titans 16-6 in the paint in the third quarter alone, scoring all but three of their points in that frame from within the painted area.
Rams Fall at The Hall
In a battle between a pair of Tri-State Area rivals, the Pirates took the lead early and never looked back as Fordham fell at Seton Hall, 67-44, Tuesday night. Nine different Rams would tally a make from the floor, led by eight points apiece from both Irene Murua and Taylor Donaldson, with Donaldson making her season debut against the Pirates.
Chae Harris would follow that duo with six points, ahead of five different players with four points apiece. Rose Nelson paced the rebounding efforts for the Maroon and White with seven, ahead of five from both Donaldson and Murua.
Next Stop
The Maroon and White hit the road next week with a trip up to Riverdale for the "Battle of The Bronx" against Manhattan on Wednesday at 7:00 p.m.
