THESSALONIKI, Greece - The Fordham Rams women's basketball team put their stamp on Greece when they earned their first notch in the win column for the 2024-2025 season against Thessaloniki Select. The Rams put up 74 points to Thessaloniki Selects' 34 points in the game.
STARTING FIVE
Coach Mitchell's starting five included returners Taya Davis and Taylor Donaldson as the 1-2 combo running the offense with strong forwards, Rose Nelson, Irene Murua Txintxurreta and Zaria Shazer crashing the boards. Davis led the Rams with 15 points while adding five rebounds and two assists. Donaldson followed suit with nine points and three rebounds.
Nelson and Graduate transfers Txintxuretta and Shazer each had five plus rebounds with Shazer leading the way with eight total.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The first quarter was off to a slow scoring start as both teams came into their own. The Rams led 13-to-9 against Thessaloniki Select. The Greek athletes ran a fast offense, often taking quick shots to try to sway the Rams, who kicked it into another gear in the second quarter, gaining 22 points. After settling in, Coach Mitchell's Rams added to the deficit going up 60-23.
After a hyped halftime, the Rams held their opponents to just one point scored in the third quarter due to the many second-efforts displayed by the talented depth off the bench. The Rams continued to push in the fourth, making it near impossible to lose momentum as the Rams finished 74-34 against Thessaloniki Select.
COMING INTO THEIR OWN
Each Ram saw playing time on the court in Greece with many new faces added into the mix of Coach Mitchell's returners. Emma Wilson-Saltos, a Bronx native and transfer out of Monroe College, led the Rams with ten rebounds as she dominated the bottom of the paint. She was two points from collecting the first double-double of the season.
Another dominant force in the paint was freshman Precious Omoshola who put up 11 points making five out of six field goals on the night. Her defensive force built momentum for the Rams at the rim. Fellow freshman Karissa Antoine came in with five rebounds, but the crowd saw many second-efforts from the first-year collegiate student-athlete.
Anastasija Veljovic would tally seven points in her first action since arriving for her first year of collegiate ball, and would have an instant impact on the defensive end, recording a team-high four steals, and rounded out her performance with a block and four rebounds as well. Pacing the assist numbers, Amiyah Ferguson, a sophomore transfer from Cal State-Northridge, would dish out three dimes. And also record a pair of rebounds and a steal.
MIDSEASON FORM
In their first action as a squad, 12 of 14 Rams would see playing time, with 11 of those tallying at least one field goal for the game. Everyone would get after it on the glass, 11-of-12 would also tally a rebound, and multiple rebounds at that. Nine Rams would also collect a steal in Tuesday's contest, with five of them nabbing two or more.
COMING UP NEXT
The Rams will take on Athens Select to close their international trip, Aug. 16 at 12:30 p.m. EDT (7:30 p.m. EEST).
