The Fordham women’s basketball team ended its season with a loss in the second round of the Atlantic 10 Championship against the Duquesne University Dukes. 

The Dukes had the Rams on the ropes from the tip-off as they scored the first five points. The Rams had no answer early and the Dukes jumped out to a 23-4 lead in the first quarter. The Rams allowed five three-pointers in the first quarter alone and 12 overall in the game.

The Rams played much better in the next three quarters, but poor play from the beginning contributed to a deficit that they could not overcome. Duquesne played efficient basketball and dominated their way to a 79-63 victory.

For Fordham, graduate student forward Irene Murua led the scoring with 19 points to go along with 12 rebounds for her fourth double-double of the season. Senior guard Taylor Donaldson had 18 points and eight rebounds in the effort. As a team, the Rams struggled with efficiency, shooting 23-72 from the floor and 7-26 from three, both statistically inefficient at 31.9% and 26.9%, respectively.

Fordham ended the year 15-15 overall and 9-9 in conference play. The team improved on their 13 wins from the previous season. After a good start to the year it is unfortunate that there was not more success in the cards for the Rams, but they will be hungry to prove themselves next season. In Head Coach Bridgette Mitchell’s third season, we can only hope the Rams will continue to show improvement.