On Saturday afternoon, the Fordham University Rams won a back-and-forth battle against the St. Bonaventure University Bonnies at home. After pulling ahead with a minute to go, the Rams refused to give up the lead and secured a close victory by a score of 51-49 over the visiting Bonnies.

With this win, the Rams improve to 6-2 in Atlantic-10 play and 12-7 overall. Their triumph means that they have now won six out of their last seven games, in addition to increasing their home winning streak to eight.

The Rams were led by senior guard Taylor Donaldson and graduate student forward Irene Murua, as the duo combined for 37 of the Rams’ 51 points, with 19 and 18 points, respectively. The Rams pounded the boards as they out-rebounded the Bonnies 41 to 31. Murua also led the way on the glass alongside teammate Karissa Antoine; combined, they gained 16 rebounds with eight rebounds apiece. Murua and Donaldson controlled the scoring, recording 21 of the Rams’ 23 first-half points.

St. Bonaventure held the lead for the majority of the first quarter. They led by four at the media break and by six at the end of the quarter.

Both sides started slow in the second quarter, with only two baskets made by the halfway point. The Rams tied the game at 19 at the 2:29 mark; the Bonnies then pulled back ahead just before the half-time buzzer to take a 24-23 lead into the locker room.

The close play of the first half continued into the second, with the teams tied at 32 with 5:19 left in the third quarter. The scoring picked up as the quarter ended, but neither side would be put away. With the game in a deadlock, the Bonnies took a 41-40 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

With the Rams down by two and in dire need of points, they turned to Donaldson as she connected on back-to-back jumpers with two minutes to play. Her second make gave the Rams a 49-47 lead that was extended to a three-point advantage on a free throw made by Murua a short while later. Donaldson sank one final free throw with 27.4 seconds remaining to secure the win for the home team.

On Wednesday., the Rams will wrap up a three-game homestand with the Battle of the Rams against the University of Rhode Island in the Bronx.