On Wednesday, Jan. 28, Fordham Women’s Basketball hit the road for Richmond, Virginia, squaring off against the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Rams in yet another Atlantic 10 (A-10) showdown. Entering this match-up, the Fordham Rams sat at 9-12 overall and 1-9 in conference play, eager to add a crucial A-10 win away from home. Facing off against the opposing VCU Rams that fed off relentless pressure and momentum shifting runs, Fordham needed to strike early and play aggressively to disrupt their game plan. Despite their strong 21-point contribution from the bench and two players finishing with double-digit points, the Rams’ effort fell short as they dropped a 69-58 decision to VCU.

Ugne Sirtautaite, a forward player, emphasized the importance of maintaining aggression while improving efficiency — especially against a team like VCU.

“As a forward, the biggest thing is staying aggressive but being smarter with my touches,” Sirtautaite said. “I’m keeping my physicality the same, but I want to be more efficient offensively and defensively. Against a team like VCU, you can’t hesitate.”

That urgency became evident early, as Fordham struggled out of the gate and found itself trailing 19-7 after the first quarter. VCU continued to apply pressure in the second quarter, building a 26-9 lead before the Rams responded with a 7-0 run to cut the deficit. Still, Fordham entered halftime down 38-25.
In preparation for the matchup, Sirtautaite noted that the team focused heavily on defensive intensity and communication — key elements against VCU’s high-energy style of play.

“[They] thrive off pressure and runs,” she said. “So we’ve really emphasized valuing the ball, getting stops early in possessions … [and] adjusting … our spacing offensively to create better driving lanes and post entries.”

That preparation paid off in the second half. Fordham opened the third quarter with renewed focus, cutting that deficit to 44-32 before going on a 6-0 run, capped by a basket from junior guard Alexis Black to narrow the differential to 44-28 late in the quarter. The Rams entered the fourth trailing but within a close margin of 48-42, fueled by improved play in the paint and disciplined defensive stops.

Fordham battled until the final frame, trimming the lead to six once again with under four minutes remaining after a layup from freshman guard Carryn Easley. However, VCU responded with timely scoring down the stretch, sealing their 69-58 win.

Individually, a standout player, junior guard Lakresha Edwards, led Fordham with a game-high 15 points, while Easley added 11 points and two steals. Senior forward Kaila Berry contributed seven points, six rebounds and two steals, while another standout player, sophomore forward Precious Omoshola, anchored Fordham on the glass with a team-high seven rebounds, all being offensive boards, leading to 11 second-chance points. Defensively, Fordham forced 15 turnovers and turned those takeaways into 10 points.

Despite the loss, Sirtautaite emphasized that conference play is about growth and response rather than records. The Rams’ 1-9 conference record doesn’t define them, rather they “learn early…respon[d].” The game becomes about “one possession at a time, one game at a time.”

Senior Emma Wilson-Saltos echoed a similar sentiment on their game play and reflected on how the team could improve on in their future games. On the defensive side, she noted that they “need to communicate more efficiently on defense and stick to [their] principles” while on the offensive side they “have to continue to share the ball for each other and get second chance points and opportunities with rebounds.”

Both of the players highlighted the importance of recognizing that one game does not define their playing abilities and that a come-back is always possible. For Wilson-Saltos, “it’s important to remember that each day is a new opportunity to continue to get better and play the sport I love.”

As A-10 play rolls on, the Fordham women’s basketball team is leaning into its resilience and sharpening its second half adjustments, determined to turn hard thought lessons from practice and tight games into momentum down the stretch.

Up next, Fordham plays at home again in the historic Rose Hill Gym to face Loyola University Chicago on Feb. 4, where the Rams will also celebrate Black History Month, helping set the stage for an energized home match-up.