The Fordham women’s basketball team ended its regular season with a victory over the Davidson University (DU) Wildcats on Saturday. The Rams head into the Atlantic 10 (A10) Tournament as the sixth seed after compiling an 8-6 record in conference play.

Saturday was also Senior Day for the team, an annual event honoring Fordham women’s basketball’s departing players. Before the game, five graduating student-athletes and their families were brought onto the court for a farewell ceremony. After the game, Head Coach Stephanie Gaitley praised the quintet for their contributions to the program.

“This has been such a great group to coach,” Gaitley said. “It’s a special group of seniors that makes this year’s success mean even more. We are looking forward to building off of this in the Atlantic 10 tournament.”

Though it was the seniors’ final home game, the Rams’ motivations to defeat Davidson extended far beyond sheer sentimentality.

Though it was the seniors’ final home game, the Rams’ motivations to defeat Davidson extended far beyond sheer sentimentality. Fordham entered the game with a rare four-game losing streak that had sent them tumbling in the A10 standings since Feb. 13. In their last game of the season, the Rams were in danger of earning a non-winning conference record, something which has not occurred since 2016.

The Fordham Rams had one of their best shooting games of the season, as they went on a 10-0 run early in the first quarter. Five points in the opening minutes came off Davidson turnovers. 

Kendell Heremaia, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS) ’22, made the only 3-pointer of the quarter, which was the shot that completed Fordham’s 10-0 run. 

But all it took was a jump shot from Asiah Dingle, Fordham College at Rose Hill (FCRH) ’22, for the Rams to retake the lead.

The Rams lost their lead for almost two minutes. Cassidy Gould, DU ’22, made a 3-point shot with less than two minutes remaining in the first quarter, bringing the score to 13-12. But all it took was a jump shot from Asiah Dingle, Fordham College at Rose Hill (FCRH) ’22, for the Rams to retake the lead. 

The quarter closed with the Rams at 17 points, culminating in a jump shot and free throw by Anna DeWolfe, FCRH ’23. 

Within the first 10 seconds of the second quarter, DeWolfe made a layup, but Issy Morgan, DU ’25, nailed a 3-point opportunity, setting the score at 19-17. After Morgan’s three, the Wildcats suffered a dry spell for the next five minutes as the Rams brought their point total to 23. 

There was a lid on the rim for the Wildcats as Fordham continued to make use of its net. 

Davidson picked up the pace in the final three minutes and was able to keep up with Fordham, shaving down the Rams’ eight-point lead to four. But Millie Prior, FCRH ’25, found Fordham’s lead too minimal and extended it to six, 32-26. 

Davidson’s net was untouched by a basketball for the first six minutes of the third quarter as Fordham stretched its lead to 14 points. 

The Rams’ defense was seemingly too much for the Wildcats to handle. Davidson shot 41% from the field, and the team was only able to attempt 12 shots compared to Fordham’s 16. 

Eventually, the Wildcats picked themselves up from their shooting slump and scored six more points by the end of the quarter. Dingle made a jump shot and strengthened Fordham’s growing lead with five seconds remaining in the third quarter, 51-38.

What helped the Rams maintain their lead were the three foul shots gifted to them by the Wildcats.

The Wildcats threatened Fordham’s inevitable win when they scored eight points in the first four minutes of the final quarter, but the Rams continued to maintain their lead. Davidson’s shooting success only meant that Fordham’s defense was beginning to tire out. 

Davidson attempted 17 field goals in the fourth quarter with a 53% success rate. What helped the Rams maintain their lead were the three foul shots gifted to them by the Wildcats.

Fordham’s 16-point lead — the largest thus far in the game, thanks to Dingle — was shortened to 11 in the final 26 seconds of the game. Morgan pushed down the court and finished a layup, ending the game down 68-57.

Fordham’s next game will be in pursuit of the A10 Championship at Chase Fieldhouse on March 3, where the Rams will face the winner of George Mason and Saint Louis.

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