BRONX, N.Y. - A thrilling performance for 40 minutes Wednesday afternoon saw Fordham University women's basketball defeat Dayton 70-48 at the Rose Hill Gym. With the win the Rams improve to 8-15 on the year and 3-9 in conference play, while Dayton falls to 10-13 and 4-8 in the A-10.
Four Rams would finish the game in double figures, led by 16 points from Emy Hayford who would also tally three rebounds and a pair of steals. A trio of players would score ten points apiece, with Taylor Donaldson finishing one rebound shy of a double-double with nine and a game-high five assists.
Aminata Ly would finish with 10 points and seven boards, while Taya Davis added 10 points and a steal. Rose Nelson would score six points and pull down five boards while also recording three blocks on the night.
"I was really proud of our team's defense," said Head Coach Bridgette Mitchell following the win. "We forced them into a lot of uncomfortable situations and I thought that we capitalized on those. Having 40 paint points is tremendous, us being able to attack inside was huge."
As a team the Rams would outscore Dayton 40-24 in the paint and force their opponents into 16 turnovers while only committing eight themselves. Those turnovers would translate into a 17-7 edge in points off turnovers for the Rams, who would lead the game for all but 57 seconds Wednesday night.
Taking their only lead of the first half on an early three pointer, Fordham would control the majority of the first half, tallying six of the final eight points in the opening frame. Five different Rams would register at least one make in the first quarter, as Fordham took a 14-9 lead after one.
The Rams would hold Dayton to just 12 points across the first 15 minutes of action in the game, going up and taking a double digit lead early in the second quarter. Scoring four of the first five baskets to open that quarter, Fordham would take its biggest lead at 11 points with just under four minutes to play in the half, before a pair of baskets by the visitors brought Dayton back within single digits.
Coming out of the locker room with a six point lead, Fordham would continue their strong play in the second half, despite Dayton cutting the lead to four with two baskets early.Â
Scoring six straight points to send the teams into the media timeout, the Rams would reestablish a 10-point advantage halfway through the third. Fordham would go up by as much as 20 in the frame, and would enter the fourth up 16 over the Flyers.
Attempting to cut into the deficit throughout the fourth, Dayton would keep pace with the Rams down the stretch, but Fordham managed to keep a comfortable lead as the clock began to wind down. Taking their biggest lead of the night at 26 just before the end of the game, the Rams tallied their fifth most points in a game this season, and held Dayton to their third fewest points on the defense end.
Fordham will play the back end of a two game homestand Saturday afternoon when they host UMass at the Rose Hill Gym. Saturday's game will serve as Alumni Day with the Rams set to honor the women's basketball Patriot League Championship team from 1993-94.
