While Fordham University Women’s Basketball started strong thanks to contributions from its myriad of freshmen and transfer students, they had a secret weapon yet to be deployed. As non-conference play wanes on, this weapon, Taylor Donaldson, has returned to the lineup in emphatic fashion.
Donaldson led the entire Atlantic 10 in scoring last year, averaging 17.9 PPG. She carried the Rams to the nine seed in the conference tournament and was snubbed from the All-A-10 First Team, earning an All-A-10 Second Team mention in her first year at Fordham.
Now a graduate student, Donaldson is looking to finish what she started. After nursing an injury for the team’s first two games, she returned off the bench in a restricted role for the Rams’ first away game of the season, a Tuesday, Nov. 12 tilt with Seton Hall University in New Jersey.
The Pirates, a Power 5 opponent and member of the loaded Big East conference, overpowered the Rams to the tune of a 67-44 rout. Donaldson was held to 20 minutes but posted an impactful eight-point, five-rebound statline. Graduate transfer Irene Murua put up the exact same numbers in a starting role, where she’s emerged as the team’s leading frontcourt player and a perfect replacement for Aminata Ly, who graduated last year.
Elsewhere, junior Rose Nelson, who’s been playing through a right-hand injury, managed to make an impact on the boards, hauling in seven to lead all Rams. While the injury to her shooting hand seems to have hindered her ability and willingness to shoot, she seems poised to step into a larger role offensively once healthy. “I definitely want to be in a bigger role on the offensive end,” said Nelson before the season. “Coach B has put me in a more versatile role this year; I’m gonna be playing the 3, 4 and 5.”
Despite Nelson’s authority on the glass, the game was lost in the turnover battle. Seton Hall forced 26 off Fordham, in part allowing them to take a whopping 22 more shots than the Rams in the game. Though Fordham shot an uber-efficient 50% from the floor while holding Seton Hall to just 36%, Seton Hall had 66 attempts to Fordham’s 44.
The Rams returned to form for a Friday night tilt with Saint Peter’s University back at the Rose Hill Gym. From the tip, Fordham set the tone. They alternated between zone and man full-court presses, forcing seven turnovers in the period. The defense effort was led by Donaldson — making her first start — and junior Chaé Harris, who had three in the frame. They dominated the glass, too, earning extra possessions by hauling in four offensive rebounds to the Peacocks’ zero.
Fordham didn’t let up in the second, which opened up with a Donaldson steal and score. Donaldson compelled the Rams to a 38-25 lead with 14 points in the frame. She managed to nab five steals in the quarter alone, tying her career-high for an entire game.
Murua anchored the team inside, demonstrating her versatility by finishing layups off post spins to both the right and left. The game’s top highlight again came from the vision of junior guard Taya Davis, who unleashed her signature over-the-shoulder pass from halfcourt into the paint, finding junior transfer Emma Wilson-Saltos for her first two points as a Ram.
The team shot 9/18 in the quarter for 26 points, forcing eight more giveaways and bringing the Peacocks’ halftime turnover total to 15.
The Peacocks weren’t content to be blown out, though. Sophomore Fatmata Janneh single-handedly willed SPU back into the game, exploding for 20 points in the second half. Beyond Janneh, the Peacocks burst out of the locker room with a 10-0 run, making it 38-35 in a matter of two minutes and 38 seconds.
Fordham had no answer for Janneh’s three-level scoring presence, as she led St. Peter’s to a 6/10 team shooting performance in the third, including four 3-pointers, narrowing the score to 47-42 through 30 minutes of play.
Fordham, meanwhile, cooled off from the floor. They shot just 3/12 in the frame, scoring just two 3-pointers, including one off a pretty Donaldson skip pass to an open Harris on the right wing. The team struggled to get good looks, largely because their best playmaker Davis missed the entire second half for undisclosed reasons.
The suddenly tight fourth quarter began in sluggish fashion, with both clubs exchanging empty possessions. The ever-reliable Murua took matters into her hands at the seven-minute mark, rolling towards the basket for an electric and one, causing an eruption from a decently packed Rose Hill Gym. Janneh continued her onslaught though, eventually burying a jumper to cut the Rams’ lead to 55-53.
With the game hanging in the balance, it was the veterans, Murua and Donaldson, who stepped up in the clutch. Murua operated in the restricted area before making a beautiful dump-off pass to a cutting junior Kaila Berry, who finished the and one. Of course, Janneh answered right back by walking into a triple, keeping the deficit at just two, 58-56, with two minutes to play.
Janneh then hauled in her 11th rebound of the night off a Donaldson miss, charging up the floor and, in fact, charging into Donaldson, who crashed to the hardwood and drew a pivotal offensive foul. The savvy play eventually translated into a Donaldson layup, making it 60-56 with the clock reading 51 seconds.
A frustrated Janneh committed another offensive foul in the ensuing possession, forcing St. Peter’s to play the foul game. The Rams struggled at the line last year, shooting an A-10-worst 62% at the stripe. Resolved to improve in 2024, sophomore Amiyah Ferguson and Donaldson combined to finish the game out with four consecutive made free throws.
When the buzzer sounded, it was a 64-56 Rams win, pulling Fordham to 2-2 in the early season. It was a return-to-form game for Donaldson, who finished with 21 points and a career-high six steals. Janneh had 28 of her own for the Peacocks, while Murua contributed 13 on an efficient 5/7 shooting for Fordham. The Rams forced 26 turnovers and racked up 15 offensive rebounds, nearly doubling the Peacocks in both categories.
Coach Bridgette Mitchell opened her postgame press conference with praise for her team’s resilience, saying, “I’m really proud of our team. This was the first game that we fought through adversity and willed our way to a victory.”
She raved about Donaldson’s big night, too: “She’s everything… Her willingness to play on both sides of the ball — we really needed that.”
Donaldson and the Rams look to pick up a second straight victory for the first time this year tonight at Manhattan College. Tip is set for 7 p.m. with coverage on ESPN+ and WFUV Sports.
