NEW YORK – Flipping the script on their opponents for the third game in a row, Fordham University women's basketball put together yet another second half rally to take down George Washington 61-53, Wednesday at the Rose Hill Gym.
In front of a sold-out crowd of over 2,800 local elementary and middle schools from the New York City area, Fordham claimed its third straight victory to move to 9-6 on the year and 3-1 in league play. The game turned just before time expired in the third, as Chaé Harris sank five straight free throws with 0.8 remaining following a three-point foul and technical foul against George Washington, giving the Rams a four-point lead, which they held the rest of the way.
Harris was part of a quartet of Rams to finish in double figures, marking the first time since the 2019-20 season the Rams had three games in a row with four players tallying 10 or more points. Fordham was led by 18 points from Taylor Donaldson, followed by 14 from Harris, who for the game was 3-of-4 from the field and a perfect 7-of-7 from the charity stripe. Taya Davis finished just behind that pair with 11 points, marking her third straight game in double figures, and Irene Murua did the same with 10 points on 4-of-7 shooting including a made three pointer.
Rose Nelson and Karissa Antoine led the rebounding numbers with six apiece, followed by five each from Donaldson and Precious Omoshola. Fordham recorded nearly two-thirds of its points in the second half alone, with 39 points in the final 20 minutes of action, and committed just 14 turnovers on the night, the second fewest in a game this season.
Fordham led 9-8 midway through the opening frame Wednesday morning, ahead of seven unanswered points by George Washington to end the court with a six point lead.
Pushing their lead to as much as 11 early in the second quarter, the Rams worked back into the contest down the stretch, sinking a layup from Davis just before the break to enter halftime trailing by just two.
Fordham tied the game on its first possession out of the locker room, and took its first lead of the game with a Murua three pointer at the 7:19 mark of the third quarter. With the visitors using a quick run of points to take back a slim lead, the Rams cut the deficit to one just before the horn, ahead of a key last second heave by Harris.
Fouled with 0.8 to go in the quarter, Harris was set to head to the line for three-shots, before a technical foul for arguing the decision was assessed to George Washington. That sent Harris to the line for five consecutive free throws, nailing the full handful to flip a one point Fordham deficit into a four point lead heading into the fourth.
It was all Rams the rest of the way, opening the fourth quarter with four of the first five makes from the field to open up an 11 point lead with 6:10 to play. The Rams defense held off the Revs the rest of the way, as Fordham captured its third straight win through four league games this season.
Looking to make it four in a row this weekend, the Rams head to the Windy City for a Saturday afternoon clash with Loyola Chicago at 2:00 p.m. EST.
