NEW YORK – Opening a three-game homestand Saturday afternoon, Fordham University women's basketball held off a late surge by Dayton to take a 58-55 win over the Flyers.
Celebrating the Centennial anniversary of the Rose Hill Gym with giveaways, trivia, and more throughout the game, the Rams rolled out to an early lead, but had to battle back early in the second half to regain momentum before staving off their opponents in the closing seconds. Fordham improves to 5-2 in Atlantic 10 play this season, and 11-7 overall on the year, while Dayton falls to 12-5 on the year, and level with the Rams at 5-2 in league play. Fordham was also joined by numerous former members of the Maroon and White Saturday, also celebrating Alumni Day with 10 former Rams in attendance for the game.
Taylor Donaldson led a trio of Rams who finished in double figures Saturday afternoon, recording a game-high 19-points along with five rebounds and a steal. Irene Murua drained 6-of-9 shots from the floor to finish with 13 points, four rebounds, two assists, one steal, and one block, while Taya Davis added 11 points, four rebounds, three assists, and a pair of steals. Fordham out-rebounded Dayton 40-29, led Emma Wilson-Saltos who tallied a team-best seven rebounds and matched Rose Nelson for the team lead with a pair of blocks as well.
Starting off strong for the third game in a row, Fordham tallied six of the first seven makes from the floor to open a 14-3 lead in the early going Saturday afternoon. A quick run late in the frame kept Dayton in reach, as Fordham drilled a pair of makes in the final minute of the first quarter to go up 20-12 after one.
A dominant second quarter by the visitors saw the Flyers rally back to take their first lead of the game with 3:34 to go in the half. The two sides traded the final few points of the half, with Dayton taking a two point lead into the locker room, leading 30-28. Murua led the way for Fordham in the first half with nine points on a perfect 4-of-4 shooting including a make from beyond the arc.
Tallying nine of the first 11 Fordham points to start the second half, Donaldson drained 5-of-6 free throws along with shooting 3-of-3 from the floor in the third quarter, to help the Maroon and White pull back ahead. Allowing Dayton just three makes from the field and a pair of free throws, the Rams outscored the Flyers by 14 in the third quarter alone, as Fordham pulled ahead 52-40 heading to the fourth.
The visitors limited Fordham offensively in the final ten minutes, with the Rams' defense coming up strong, holding off a surge by Dayton down the stretch. Davis eventually put the game away for good, sinking a pair of free throws with just ten seconds to play, to give her side a two possession lead, before one more for good measure to set the final tally.
The Rams are back in action next Saturday for the middle game of a three game home stretch when they host St. Bonaventure on Jan. 25 at the Rose Hill Gym at 2:00 p.m.
