Fordham Women’s Basketball knows a thing or two about blowouts. Just one week after a season-opening 27-point victory, the Rams fell to the University of Miami in a 39-point rout.
But if Coach Bridgette Mitchell’s team has proven one thing over the last two weeks, it’s that they’re not easily deterred. This Rams squad can dish out the damage too.
After the demoralizing Miami loss, Fordham returned home to Rose Hill to take on Manhattan College in a clash of storied history. When it comes to the Battle of the Bronx, the Rams have held the upper hand in recent memory, winning the last 11 contests.
But on Nov. 16, it was Manhattan’s time to flip the script, triumphing as they completely shut down any semblance of an offensive attack on Fordham’s side. Things were close early as the Jaspers held a 12-11 lead after one quarter of play. Manhattan pulled away in the second quarter, taking a 10-point lead into halftime. The Rams had no answer for freshman forward Tegan Young, who scored 10 of the Jaspers’ 19 points in the frame to give Manhattan a double digit cushion. With Fordham’s offense continuing to struggle in the second half, the Jaspers continued to build on their lead, taking a 17-point advantage into the final frame and ultimately cruising to a victory.
The Jaspers didn’t get any points from their bench, but they didn’t need it as the Rams fell victim to Manhattan’s balanced starting five. The three-headed monster of Young alongside sophomore Anne Blair and junior Nitzan Amar carved through a typically resilient Fordham defense.
Six-foot-four senior forward Aminata Ly was a bright spot in an otherwise forgettable contest, recording the first double-double of her Fordham career as she recorded team-highs with 10 points and 12 rebounds. Graduate student Emy Hayford matched Ly’s 10 points, but the offense floundered for a second game in a row.
Reeling off of back to back double digit losses, the Rams were primed for a bounce back against a winless Georgian Court University team. Facing their second Division II program of the season, Fordham exercised their will in a 85-44 victory.
The Rams shot out of a cannon, scoring 17 unanswered points and leaping ahead to a 26-7 lead in their highest scoring quarter of the season. After attempting just five threes in the entirety of their game against Manhattan, Fordham sank five threes in the first quarter alone, with freshman Cassidy Mahaney sinking three straight trifectas to close out the frame. The Rams kept their pedal on the metal in the second half, outscoring the Lions by double digits in both the third and fourth quarters.
The 41-point victory is the largest Fordham win since the Rams defeated St. Peter’s 81-39 last November. After scoring 20+ points in a quarter just once this season, the Rams surpassed the 20 point mark in three different quarters.
Six different Rams surpassed the double digit mark in an all-encompassing team effort. Graduate student Mandy McGurk had her best game as a Ram with a season-high 15 points. Head Coach Bridgette Mitchell seized the opportunity to play some of her younger role players, resulting in career days for Mahaney and sophomore Kaila Berry. Mahaney played a season-high 28 minutes, scoring the first field goals of her collegiate career with a 13 point effort, while Berry scored a career-high 11 points. Ly added 12, her second straight double digit performance, while senior Maranda Nyborg and junior Taya Davis also notched 10-plus points on the night.
Fordham got a five day respite with the Thanksgiving break, as they returned back in action on Saturday to take on the University of Massachusetts Lowell. Facing a second straight winless opponent, the Rams didn’t miss a beat, defeating UMass Lowell 76-49.
Just like on Monday, the Rams rode a first quarter hot streak to an early lead, taking a 12-0 lead and forcing a UMass timeout just five minutes after tip. The timeout helped slow down the Fordham offense, but the River Hawks couldn’t get much going on their end as Fordham held them to just four points on 2-12 shooting in the first quarter. UMass Lowell stayed within striking distance in the first half, but a 21 point output in the third quarter gave the Rams a big cushion as they coasted to another victory.
Once again, the Fordham offense was active up and down the lineup, as five players posted double digits for a second straight game. It was a complete game for senior Matilda Flood, who scored a career high 13 points while adding six rebounds, three assists, and two steals. McGurk continued her offensive groove with a team-high 14 points. Senior Taylor Donaldson scored 12 points in her return to the lineup after missing Monday’s game against Georgian Court.
Two blowouts were fun, so how about one more? That’s the mindset this Rams squad seemed to take into their Tuesday matchup against St. Peter’s University, defeating the Peacocks 80-46 in their third straight victory of 30-plus points. Leading 32-22 at halftime, the Rams exploded with a massive second half, putting up 48 points while holding St. Peter’s to 24. While the last two games showcased Fordham’s ability to spread the wealth, there was one clear shining star as Taylor Donaldson exploded for 35 points, tied for sixth most in program history. Draining a ridiculous seven three pointers, tied for fourth in Fordham history, Donaldson was the major catalyst in a Fordham offense that continued to roll.
Sophomore Rose Nelson was the main supporting offense, tallying 12 points on 6-8 shooting in a breakout effort. The Fordham offense was efficient as a whole, hitting at a nearly 50 percent clip for the entirety of the game, while the team nailed a season-high 10 three pointers.
Now with three straight wins, Fordham sits at 5-2, showing promising signs of life particularly on the offensive side. With their first conference game of the season just one week away, the Rams seem to be settling into a groove at just the right time. They’ll be back in action this Saturday hosting Maine University.
