NEW YORK – Often known for their ability to render their opponents motionless, the Spiders came to New York looking to continue their hot start to the season. Thursday night efforts were thwarted however by the friendly neighborhood Fordham Rams, who captured an 80-78 win over the A-10's top team in an absolute thriller in the Rose Hill Gym.
In a game that saw eight ties and 12 lead changes throughout, Richmond attempted to break away on multiple occasions, but were slung back in by the Rams each time, before eventually taking and holding the lead down the stretch in the fourth to claim the win. The Rams improve to 7-6 on the year (1-1 A-10) while the Spiders fall to 10-5 (1-1 A-10).
Despite facing a team shooting top 30 in the nation in field goal percentage, three point percentage, and free throw percentage as a team, the Rams outshot Richmond from the field and the charity stripe, and led 46-38 on points in the paint. Fordham shot 55.2% from the field making 32-of-58 shots as a group, and sank 10-of-12 free throws, the best tally in a game this season.
Four Rams finished the game in double figures with each shooting at least 46% from the floor. Irene Murua lit up the floor draining a career high 24 points on 11-of-16 shooting, and was followed by 18 points from Taylor Donaldson. Finishing just two assists shy of a double-double, Taya Davis would add 16 points on 6-of-8 shooting, followed by 11 points from Chae Harris.
A fast-paced start to Thursday night's meeting with the Spiders saw the two sides go blow for blow to start, tied at 14-all with 3:04 to play in the opening frame. Led by 10 points from Murua in the first, Fordham closed the quarter on a 10-2 run to pull ahead by a pair after 10 minutes of action in The Bronx.
Draining five of the first six makes in the second period, the visitors pulled ahead for their biggest lead of the night at 28-20 with 6:39 to play in the half. Crawling back again, the Maroon and White used a 13-to-5 push to bring themselves back even at 33, but a late Richmond basket gave the Spiders a three-point lead at halftime.
Richmond once again tried to pull away into the third but the Rams stayed resilient, rallying for a 10-2 run midway through the quarter before taking their first lead of the night with just under three minutes to play in the frame, 53-49. The Spiders would muster a handful of points late, keeping a one point lead heading to the fourth quarter.
Combining for nearly 50 points in the final frame, Richmond and Fordham battled for momentum down the stretch, with Fordham pulling away for a nine point lead, the biggest of the night for either side to make it 74-65 with 3:30 to play. Cutting it down to just a one point game with 1:09 to go, Richmond nearly drew level before a pair of trips to the free throw line for the Rams sealed a two-point victory over one of the nation's top teams early in league play.
The Rams head to Pittsburgh, Pa. this weekend for their next game Sunday, Jan. 5 at Duquesne at 1:00 p.m. on ESPN+.
