BRONX, N.Y. - The University of Dayton women's basketball team went back on the road to Fordham University Saturday afternoon and nearly pulled off the road win, but came up short in a 58-55 loss.
The Flyers (11-7, 5-2 A-10) rallied from a double-digit deficit, but the Rams (11-7, 5-2 A-10) tied UD in the A-10 standings with the win.
GAME BREAKDOWN
1st Quarter: Dayton 12, Fordham 20
- Fordham scored first after a slow start offensively for both teams.
- The Rams followed up with a couple more baskets to take a 7-0 run before a three by senior Ivy Wolf at the 7:11 mark put the Flyers on the board.
- The hosts extended their lead to 14-3 with 6:04 to play, forcing Dayton to call a timeout.
- Wolf hit another three at the top of the key to end the drought with 5:42 on the clock.
- Senior Arianna Smith scored six straight points for UD and closed the gap to four, 16-12 and just under three minutes in the first.
- The Flyers went scoreless again for another 2:39 as the Rams led by eight.
2nd Quarter: Dayton 30, Fordham 28
- Neither team was able to get a field goal in the opening two minutes.
- Grad student Rikki Harris converted an and-one before a transition bucket by senior Shannon Wheeler made it 20-18 with 7:39 in the quarter.
- The Rams didn't score their first points of the second until the 6:22 mark.
- At the media timeout, the score was 24-23 in favor of Fordham, but Dayton had momentum.
- The Flyers managed to take their first lead of the game 25-24, but the Rams got it right back the next possession.
- Smith became the first player in double digits with her fifth field goal at the 2:22 mark.
- Wolf hit another big transition three to put UD up 30-28 and her in double digits as well.
- Dayton forced 16 Fordham turnovers for 13 second-chance points.
3rd Quarter: Dayton 40, Fordham 52
- On the first possession of the second half, freshman Jayda Johnson nailed a three for her first of the game and made it a five-point UD lead.
- Fordham relied on the free throw line early, making 5-of-5 in the first 1:30.
- The Rams went on a run of their own and took a 41-35 lead by the 6:48 mark.
- Smith ended the skid for the Flyers with 3:42 to play in the third.
- Fordham pushed its advantage to double digits at 50-40 with 1:16 on the clock.
4th Quarter: Dayton 55, Fordham 58
- Dayton earned three quick fouls in the opening 45 seconds putting the Flyers at the line early.
- UD tried to chip away at the margin over the next few minutes, making it a six-point game at the midway point in the fourth and forcing a Fordham timeout.
- The Rams were held scoreless for 5:40 as the clock ticked under four to play.
- Grad student Nicole Stephens drove and scored twice to make it a 55-53 at the :43 mark.
- Fordham was able to hit their free throws in the waning seconds and held on for the win.
KEY STATS
14 and 8 – Arianna smith led the way with 14 points and a team-high eight rebounds, while going 6-of-9 from the floor.
17 –
Ivy Wolf had a team-high 17 points on five made threes.
11 – Dayton recorded 11 steals in the contest, two shy of a season high.
22 – The Flyers forced 22 turnovers by the Rams.
UP NEXT
The Flyers return home to host Saint Louis University Wednesday, Jan. 22 at 7 p.m. at UD Arena for a Red Out game.
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