CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL | PHOTOS | POSTGAME PRESS CONFERENCE
PITTSBURGH – Fordham recorded a season-high 13 3-pointers in a 73-62 Atlantic 10 Championship quarterfinal victory Friday over the Massachusetts Minutewomen at the A.J. Palumbo Center. Fordham has now won 10 consecutive games.
This is Fordham’s (23-8) first berth in the Atlantic 10 Championship semifinals since 2015.
“I’m super proud of this group, this is the best chemistry that I’ve had in eight years coaching this team,” Fordham coach Stephanie Gaitley said. “It was a total team effort and I want to give credit to UMass. It was a hard-fought game.”
Fordham sophomore guard Bre Cavanaugh led the Rams with 29 points. The Atlantic 10 All-Conference First Team selection shot 12-of-21 from the field.
All-Conference First Team member Mary Goulding tied a career-high scoring 24 points and collected 10 rebounds, her 10th double-double of the season, while sophomore guard Kendell Heremaia matched her highest-ever Atlantic 10 scoring total with 14 points.
All-Rookie Team member Destiney Philoxy contributed to UMass’s cause netting 21 points, while UMass (16-16) junior guard Hailey Leidel added 19 points and 10 rebounds, good for her sixth double-double of the season.
UMass opened the contest on a 9-2 run but Fordham adjusted, and a 30-point second quarter allowed the Rams to open up a double-digit halftime advantage. Though UMass made several comeback attempts in the game, ultimately Fordham was able to remain in front to clinch the victory
As UMass made one last charge at the end of the game cutting Fordham’s lead to six points, Goulding was able to draw two charges on consecutive possessions, and also beat the shot clock with a three-point basket, allowing the Rams to advance.
Fordham will face the winner of the last quarterfinal game between third-seeded Duquesne and sixth-seeded Saint Louis Saturday at 1:30 p.m. ET in a contest televised by CBS Sports Network.