HENRICO, VA. - A battle for a full 40 minutes Wednesday afternoon saw Fordham University women's basketball fall to Loyola Chicago 54-53 in the Second Round of the Atlantic 10 Tournament.
The Rams would nab 12 steals as a team, the 14th time this season with double digit steals, still ranking as one of the national leaders in that category. Fordham would also tally nine blocks, the most in a single game this season.
Taylor Donaldson would pace the Rams' efforts with 15 points and eight rebounds while also nabbing a team-high four steals. One of three players in double figures, Emy Hayford would tally 12 points as would Rose Nelson, doing so on 6-of-7 shooting and also recorded four blocks.
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The Rams would take a nine point lead early in the first quarter as they stretched a 13-4 advantage, but the Ramblers would work back from there and keep it close the rest of the way.
Matilda Flood would nab a steal just before the buzzer to put Fordham up one.
A closely contested second quarter would see Loyola Chicago take a five point lead, but never more than that as the Rams cut it back to one, before a final basket at the horn gave the Ramblers a one point cushion at the break.
After their opponents started the second half with the first bucket from the floor, the Fordham would tack on seven straight to take a three point lead, and head into the fourth quarter up by a pair.
Holding a six point lead with just over five minutes to play, Loyola would work its way back, tying the game with 1:04 to go. The Rams would take the lead once more before a free throw with 24 seconds left gave the Ramblers the deciding point in the A-10 Second Round Wednesday afternoon.
The Rams conclude the 2023-24 season 13-17, and 8-10 in the A-10 regular season in the first season under head coach Bridgette Mitchell. Fordham ends the year ranked amongst the Top-75 teams in the nation in steals per game, offensive rebounds per game, and forced turnovers per game.
