Women’s Basketball Recap: Flyers Stymie Fordham, Win A-10 Title

Brendan Zdunek
Contributing Writer

Droves of fans were lined up at the UD Arena ticket office before the women’s basketball team’s tip off against Fordham Sunday afternoon. On Senior Day, the Flyers did not disappoint.

Defeating Fordham 79-54, Dayton extended its win streak to 15 games, clinched the Atlantic 10 regular season title for the second consecutive season, and sent the seniors off the way they deserved.

“These guys knew what was on the line and they came ready to play,” said coach Shauna Green after the game.

“We had great practices all week, we got good rest, and we completely executed our defensive gameplan.”
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Consistent Defense And Guards Draining From Afar

Defense kept the Flyers in control all game, holding Fordham to 31 percent shooting from the floor. On the other end of the court, UD kept the pressure up offensively.

In the first half, they shot 52 percent overall and 57 percent from the three-point line. Junior guard Lauren Cannatelli nearly stole the show in the first half, hitting five of seven three-point attempts on her way to 19 points in the first 20 minutes.
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The second half brought more of the same, and Dayton pulled away. And the seniors were able to walk to the bench in the final two minutes to a deserving standing ovation.

“I loved our confidence. I loved our aggressiveness and we came out with a mission. You could see it in their eyes that they were going to play well tonight,” Green said.

Cannatelli ended the night with 22 points, but it was senior guard Jenna Burdette who ended up leading the team offensively. She scored 27 points while shooting 10 of 19 from the floor and dished out eight assists.

“We have a good feel of the team of whoever has a hot hand at the moment. And we just do a really good job of sharing the ball,” Burdette said.

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What’s next?

The Flyers still have two conference games, one at home Wednesday, against George Mason and the other away at Saint Louis on Feb. 24.

George Mason is 20-7 (9-4). This is the first matchup between the two teams this season.

But that was hardly on the team’s mind as they celebrated another championship.

“To clinch [the regular season A-10 title] at home on Senior Night,” Green said. “I want them to enjoy this and we’ll get focused in tomorrow to do what we need to do for George Mason.”

Photos Taken By Griffin Quinn/Staff Photographer