OLEAN, N.Y. – For the third time in as many games the Fordham University women's basketball team took the lead early and allowed their defense to handle the rest as the Rams defeated St. Bonaventure 70-48 Sunday afternoon.
Winners of three straight and four of their last six games, the Rams improved to 10-15, and 5-9 in the Atlantic 10. Taya Davis led all scorers on the day with 25 points on a dominant 9-of-12 shooting from the floor and 7-10 on free throw attempts.
Behind her, a pair of players would also tally double figures as Taylor Donaldson scored 12 points along with six rebounds and a pair of steals, while Emy Hayford also scored 12 on 5-of-9 shooting.
Rose Nelson would finish with seven points, including her first career three pointer, while also pulling down seven boards and recording three blocks and two assists. Aminata Ly would also grab seven rebounds to tie for the team-high, with Matilda Flood finishing just behind them with six boards herself.
A somewhat chippy contest throughout all but one player who entered the game left without being credited with a foul, as overall the teams were charged with 45 fouls in the game. Besting their opponents 44-10 on points in the paint the Rams shot 45% from the field Sunday afternoon.
Opening the game on a 9-0 run, the Rams would force an early timeout by St. Bonaventure. Davis would tally the final eight points of the first quarter for the Rams on drives to the basket, forcing contact and drawing numerous chances at the charity stripe early in the contest.
After outscoring their opponents by 11 in the opening frame, the Rams were limited to just one basket in the first four minutes of the second quarter. The Bonnies would hold the edge as the first half came to a close, edging the Rams 12-10 in the quarter, which gave Fordham a nine point advantage heading into the locker room.
Out of the break the visitors would nail six of their first ten shots from the floor to stretch their lead to 13 with under five minutes to play in the third quarter. The Rams would continue to push their lead, shooting perfect the rest of the way to finish 11-of-15 shooting as a team in the third, outscoring the Bonnies 30-17 while scoring their most points in a single quarter this season.
The two sides would score 13 points apiece in the fourth quarter, but Fordham would score four of the final five makes from the floor to seal the win down the stretch. Claiming the first road victory of the campaign, the Rams have now won three in a row as they head back down to the Bronx for their next game Wednesday.
Fordham women's basketball returns to action Wednesday at the Rose Hill Gym when they host Saint Louis at 7:00 p.m.
