Fordham was very intentional in the transfer portal this offseason. Third-year head coach Bridgette Mitchell went in seeking size, a clear acknowledgement of what her team needed more of in her first two seasons.
The response?
Fordham brought in Ugne Sirtautaite from Providence and Ornella Niankan from Wichita State to pack the paint. The Rams also added a pair of guards: Alexis Black, who most recently played at VCU, Tia Morgan from Purdue Fort-Wayne, as well as Lakresha Edwards from Miami (Ohio).
“I believe the six players that we’ve brought in bring size and skill,” Mitchell determined. “We weren’t shooting exceptionally well last year, everyone knows Taylor Donaldson was our leading scorer and Irene helped her, but now we have multiple scorers and that was our intent.”
Here is a look at the Rams
Coach- Bridgette Mitchell 3rd season
Last year- Fordham went 15-15 with an even 9-9 mark in A-10 play. Fordham made an impression early on with a Jan. 2 home victory against Richmond, the lone conference tilt the Spiders would drop. Fordham earned a first round Atlantic 10 Championship bye before falling 79-63 to Duquesne in second round action.
They’ll miss- Taylor Donaldson (16.3 ppg/4.4 rpg/66 3’s/54 stls), Irene Murua (12.4 ppg/6.6 rpg/55.5% FG), Chae Harris (9.2 ppg)
Impact returners- Emma Wilson-Saltos (3.6 ppg/50% FG/10 starts), Kaila Berry (3.5 ppg/15 starts), Anastasija Veljovic (3 ppg)
Mitchell has been pleased by the work this returning trio has put in.
“They all got substantial minutes last season,” she stated. “From a work perspective, they came in this summer and have been really intentional about their development. They have really been coachable, gone in and really focused on being better. With those three, I think you are going to be really surprised by their production this season.”
Newcomers of note- Ornella Nianken (4.4 ppg/3.6 rpg at Wichita State), Alexis Black (VCU), Tia Morgan (3.4 ppg at Purdue Fort-Wayne)
Reasons to be optimistic: Get 2% better.
It is the goal set in practice. Come in and put in your best effort on a consistent daily basis.
Because of Fordham’s increased size, it expects to be more disruptive defensively. For most of the season, the Rams paced the A-10 in steals and with more size in the post, Fordham believes this combined with more depth can only help.
Additionally, Mitchell praised Morgan for her daily efforts in getting everyone to buy in. With several returning players, everyone has a clear knowledge of what to expect, which has been passed along to the newcomers.
“I feel like they understand that’s what we’re going to do to be honest,” said Niankan. “Everyday Coach B puts emphasis on that. We huddle up and say what we’re going to do every day, we all agree, and we show up.”
The messaging has spread across the roster with sophomore forward Precious Omoshola a perfect example. After playing in 23 games and averaging 6.2 minutes, she has noticeably put in the work this summer, clearly determined to find a bigger role to assist her team.
X Factor- It is clear that Niankan has already made a big impression on Mitchell, praising her consistency.
“She comes in with the right mentality every day to get better,” Mitchell beamed. “Lala is the most consistent person on the team thus far as we have been competing to do that. She brings great work ethics, so when she comes in with the right mentality and mindset, she’s leading in sprints, communicating with her teammates, when she speaks it matters. We are lucky to have her as she is in her fifth year.”
For her part, Niankan expressed a clear happiness for where she is at.
“I am grateful to be part of Fordham women’s basketball,” responded Niankan. “My teammates and I are doing our best to stay consistent and get better every day. 2%, that’s what we’re going for and Coach B and the way she wants to play is really what I was looking for in my recruiting process.”
And what way is she exactly referring to?
“That way that she is referring to is fast, Lala is fast,” Mitchell responded. “Her motor is high; she never gets tired. You look at her and she is going up and down for 20 minutes and it’s like ‘is she tired yet? Alright let’s keep going.’”
Circle the date- A couple of key road non-conference games occur four days apart as Fordham first faces Buffalo, last year’s WNIT champion, on Nov. 16 and then face 23-win Seton Hall, a Pirates team which advanced to the second round of last year’s WBIT.
Bottom line: Fordham looks to make a step up and hopes between size and intentionality that it has done enough.
“We are very excited for this year’s team, we have been doing a lot of work,” Mitchell concluded. “We’re excited to compete in such a competitive conference for women’s basketball.”