NEW YORK – People often compare the severity of New York versus Los Angeles traffic, but Friday night Fordham University women's basketball answered that question, clogging the passing lanes all night for a 66-51 victory over Cal State Fullerton at the Historic Rose Hill Gym.
Collecting their first victory of the season, the Maroon and White improved to 1-1 on the year, with the Rams' defense highlighting the night, picking 13 steals for the second game in a row to open the 2024-25 season, while forcing the Titans into 19 turnovers over the course of the game.
Both Precious Omoshola and Kaila Berry set a new career-high with four steals apiece Friday night, ahead of three from Camila De Pool, also a career-best for the Rams' rookie. The Maroon and White would dominate below the basket, outsourcing Cal State Fullerton 42-12 in the paint, with Fordham never trailing in the game at any point, and only allowing the Titans to tie the score on three occasions.
A trio of Rams would finish the night in double figures, as Omoshola drilled 6-of-9 shots to tally 13 points, ahead of a double-double from Irene Murua with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Completing the group. Amiyah Ferguson shot an efficient 4-of-6 from the floor including a three pointer, for 10 points, along with four rebounds and two assists.
Breaking out to a quick 7-1 lead just over two minutes in, Fordham would take control early before the Titans leveled the game just ahead of the media break in the first quarter. Holding Cal State Fullerton off the board for the remainder of the quarter, the Rams would tally seven unanswered points to hold a 14-7 lead through 10 minutes of action.
The Titans tallied three of the first four makes to open the second stanza, and would hold within two possessions for the majority of the quarter. After the visitors leveled the game at 19-all with 6:04 to play in the half, it would once again be a one-sided close the quarter, as Fordham scored 11-straight points, and would take a 30-22 lead into the locker room.
A dominant effort down low in the third quarter, 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 from within the painted area. Evenly matched for much of the frame, Fordham would have its lead cut to as little as six, but would hang on down the stretch for their biggest lead to that point at 12, leading 49-37 heading into the fourth.
After Cal State Fullerton scored the first basket of the fourth quarter, an 8-0 Fordham run would give the Rams their biggest lead for the night at 18 points, and went on to close an 11-point victory following a flurry of fouls and free throws in the final minutes.
Fordham hits the road Tuesday for the first time this season, heading across the Hudson for a meeting with Seton Hall at 7:00 p.m. in South Orange, N.J.
