1 of 1- xAC
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Offline - From: Alabama
- Registered: 7/22/2019
- Posts: 508
GW versus Fordham Game Thread
These days it’s hard to know whether games will take place or not, but here goes. This Wednesday, GW travels to the Bronx for a tilt against the Fordham Rams at Rose Hill Gym, always a tough place to play. Last year, we were on the losing end of both home and away games in a couple of pretty competitive games. This nationally broadcast contest on Wednesday is our only regular season matchup with Fordham this season.
The Rams are another team on the top of the A10 ladder, projected to finish 3rd in the A10 this year. They had a pretty good OOC, finishing at 8-3 against a tough schedule, with keys wins against Michigan State, Princeton, and Houston, and losses to Notre Dame, Baylor, and Arizona State. They have started the A10 season at 2-1, with wins over George Mason and VCU, following an opening day loss to LaSalle.
Fordham is a well coached and experienced team that features the league’s leading scorer in Anna DeWolfe. The 5’8” Junior guard is a high volume shooter (18.5 attempts/game) who averages 20.1 ppg on 42.8% shooting (35.7% from distance), and 2.8 apg. She is complemented by Asiah Dingle, a 5’4” Senior PG who averages 13.1 ppg and 3 apg. Rounding out their top three is Kendell Heremaia, a graduate student averaging 11.1 ppg and 6.0 rpg, but more significantly, someone who has been a thorn in our side for (what seems like) years. Also on the starting five are Seniors Kaitlyn Downy (6’1”), and Megan Jonassen (6’0”). As a team, Fordham scores 65.2 ppg, while giving up 59.7. They shoot 40.9% from the field (30.9 from three point range).
After a week off, GW comes into the game with questions about the availability of many players. It has been difficult to maintain continuity and progress under the pandemic conditions, so GW players (whoever is available) have to find a way to step up and perform. The key for GW is to try and contain DeWolfe. She’ll get her shots, but she’s also turnover prone (over 4 TOs per game) so playing her tight may cause mistakes and lower her shooting percentage. We can’t forget about Heremaia, who has had big games when we’ve contained DeWolfe, but also seems to make a lot of key plays at critical times. If we can control our defensive boards and limit unforced errors, we can make a game of this.
Last edited by xAC (1/17/2022 6:58 pm)
- xAC
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- From: Alabama
- Registered: 7/22/2019
- Posts: 508
Re: GW versus Fordham Game Thread
Fordham wins a closely contested game 61-53.
Although it looked like the last 6 minutes determined the outcome of the game (we only one field goal and 4 points), the game was a back and forth up to that point, but we could never get over the hump to go ahead in the game, and we had opportunities.
Right now, we are still a work in progress, but this game really showed how good this team can be. After going down by 14 at the start of the second quarter, we rallied to a one-point deficit on a 15-2 run that displayed one great sequence of play after another. Although we didn’t have any really long droughts until the end of the game, we couldn’t keep the Rams from scoring and extending their lead to between 6-10 points throughout. We cut the lead to 2 points with 6 minutes left, but we were outscored 10-4 in those final moments.
Fordham is a really good team with a premier player in DeWolfe. We didn’t do a great job on her, and she didn’t miss uncontested shots (we gave her a few too many), but her one-one play was almost unstoppable anyway. Heremaia contributed her (4) three pointers at critical times, with a couple being rally killers. From our side, we had great balance when each individual played within themselves, but once again, besides Lok, our players don’t seem to know what to do with the ball when they drive and meet resistance from the defense. Wild shots and turnovers usually resulted. The early 2nd quarter 14-point deficit was directly attributable to bad shot selection for multiple consecutive possessions. Up to that point, the offense was deliberate and efficient. For the game Lok, Laureano, Taiwo scored in double figures.
Moore and Frames were with the team but did not play, and they would have made our rotation significantly stronger. The more I watch the team, the more I like them, and it’ll be great to finally have all the players healthy at the same time. Although we’re still a couple of good players shy from being able to consistently contend with the top teams in the conference, the visible progress being made in refreshing.
On a cautionary note, Lok limped off the court after landing awkwardly on her 3-point attempt in the final moments. We all hope the injury is not serious.
Last edited by xAC (1/19/2022 11:00 pm)
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