Bronx News Sports: Fordham University Women Win Fifth Straight

Bronx News Sports: Fordham University Women Win Fifth Straight: Fordham University Women Win Fifth Straight #Fordham #Rams #Basketball By Howard Goldin BRONX, NEW YORK, JANUARY 19- The Fordham Rams...

Fordham University Women Win Fifth Straight

Fordham University Women Win Fifth Straight

#Fordham #Rams #Basketball

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, JANUARY 19- The Fordham Rams (13-5, 5-0), in their second of three consecutive home games, defeated the VCU Rams (12-6, 3-2), 60-51, on Sunday afternoon at the Rose Hill Gym in the Bronx. 

Both teams entered the contest with four-game winning streaks, with eight wins in their last nine contests and with identical season marks. The visitors have a perfect mark at home, but have lost six of 10 on the road. 

The visitors netted the first basket of the game at 19:19, held their only advantage of the contest for 34 seconds. Mid-way through the first half, Fordham raised its lead to double digits for the first time in the contest. Thanks to the effective offensive play of Fordham center Samantha Clark, Fordham ended the half with a 27-18 lead. The current Atlantic-10 Player of the Week was the high scorer of the half with 13 points.

Fordham raised its lead to a game-high 16 points at 12:15 in the second half. An 11-1 scoring run by VCU cut the deficit to six four minutes later. Two three pointers by Hannah Missry raised the home team’s advantage to 14, 51-37, with 5:20 Left on the clock. After the game, Coach Gaitley complimented “the inside-outisde play” of Clark and Missry for the victory. Clark scored 18 and Missry scored 17.

The coach also recognized the tough non-conference schedule for its recent great success, “The non-conference schedule absolutely prepared us for the conference.” 

A contingent of Fordham alums from the women’s basketball program included Hall of Fame members Anne Gregory O’Connell and Mary Ann Belotti were honored at the half.

The Fordham Rams will host UMass in their next contest, a noon matinee on Wednesdeay.

Bronx News Sports: St. Ray’s Competes in Tourney

Bronx News Sports: St. Ray’s Competes in Tourney: St. Ray’s Competes in Tourney #StRaymonds #Basketball By Gary Quintal BRONX, NEW YORK, JANUARY 19- Fans of high school baske...

St. Ray’s Competes in Tourney

St. Ray’s Competes in Tourney

#StRaymonds #Basketball

By Gary Quintal

BRONX, NEW YORK, JANUARY 19- Fans of high school basketball were treated to the 12th annual Big Apple Invitational at Baruch College this Martin Luther King weekend.  

Among the 17 participants were two Bronx Catholic high schools: Cardinal Hayes and Saint Raymond. Ohter schools featured came from as far as Washington D.C., Massachusetts, and Virgina. The tournament is a showcase of elite high schools from the region. Many of the players have already committed to college basketball programs. 

On the opening day Saint Raymond won a thrilling overtime contest 82-73 after Saint John's College High School sent the game into overtime, scoring a three pointer with 19.9 seconds to play. 

Bronx News Sports: Hall of Famers Johnson, Martinez relay Yankee Memo...

Bronx News Sports: Hall of Famers Johnson, Martinez relay Yankee Memo...: Hall of Famers Johnson, Martinez relay Yankee Memories #RandyJohnson  #PedroMartínez  #John Smoltz  By Howard Goldin BRONX, NEW Y...

Hall of Famers Johnson, Martinez relay Yankee Memories

Hall of Famers Johnson, Martinez relay Yankee Memories

#RandyJohnson  #PedroMartínez  #John Smoltz 

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, JANUARY 8- The four baseball legends, Randy Johnson, Pedro Martínez, John Smoltz and Craig Biggio, who are the newest elected members of the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, were at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City on Wednesday morning for the Hall’s annual press conference for its newest members. 

Four is the largest number newly elected members since 1955 when Joe DiMaggio, Gabby Hartnett, Ted Lyons and Dazzy Vance were chosen. The three pitchers chosen in their first year on the ballot is a new record. It is obvious after evaluating each of the players’ careers in its entirety, that each member of the Class of 2015 deserved the honor he has been given. 

The press conference on January 7 was very upbeat as each of the elected was in high spirits and drew many laughs from those assembled in the Jade Room. Two of the four men played for New York clubs.

Randy Johnson’s accomplishments earned him a vote of 97.3 percent, the eighth highest total in HOF voting history. The lefty had a career mark of 303-166 and an ERA of 3.29 with 4,875 strikeouts, second only to Nolan Ryan. During his lengthy big league career, 1988-2009, there were numerous impressive achievements in individual games and single seasons as well. 

The 6 foot 10 hurler was a 10-time All-Star, 9-time strikeout leader and 4-time ERA leader. He was a 5-time Cy Young winner, 4 years in succession (1999-2002). He is the oldest pitcher to throw a perfect game. 

In January 2005, the Diamondbacks traded him to the Yankees. He played two seasons in the Bronx before being traded back to the Diamondbacks in January 2007. Johnson spoke with delight of playing in Yankee Stadium, “As a visiting player for 9 ½ years, there was no greater place to come to than old Yankee Stadium. I wanted to come to New York and be thrown in the fire. I loved every minute. I loved New York.” He spoke of Old Timers’ Days, when he was able to speak to Whitey Ford, Yogi Berra and Reggie Jackson and added, “Who wouldn’t love that.”

Johnson also talked of the controversy of those two years, “I maybe didn’t pitch as well as people wanted…Playing for the Yankees was at the end of my career [He began with NY at the age of 41.] I gave it everything I had [He pitched with a herniated disc in his back in 2006].” Johnson had a mark of 17-8 and 17-11 in his two seasons in the Bronx.

The irrepressible Martínez, who pitched at Yankee Stadium with its biggest rivals, the Boston Red Sox and New York Mets, quickly and humorously responded to Johnson, “You’re lucky Randy. Having to face the Yankees as a visiting player with the Red Sox, the Yankees fans wanted to intimidate you, but they recognized greatness.” 

The four-year veteran of the Mets, 2005-2008, contrasted the fans of the two New York clubs, “In Queens, they are wild and happy. They settle for what they have, but Yankee fans cannot-[it’s] win or nothing.”

Martínez then spoke more seriously of his feelings of playing in New York, “I really enjoyed the time in New York. I learned a lot. I have no complaints about being in New York. I loved it here.”

The quartet will be inducted in Cooperstown, New York on July 26.

Bronx News Sports: Home Sweet Home for Jaspers

Bronx News Sports: Home Sweet Home for Jaspers: Home Sweet Home for Jaspers #ManhattanCollege By Gary Quintal  BRONX, NEW YORK, JANUARY 8- After playing 11 of their first 13...

Home Sweet Home for Jaspers

Home Sweet Home for Jaspers

#ManhattanCollege

By Gary Quintal 

BRONX, NEW YORK, JANUARY 8- After playing 11 of their first 13 games away from home, the Manhattan College Jaspers hosted the Saint Peters Peacocks Wednesday evening winning 68-63. 

Prior to the game, Junior Shane Richards was honored for holding the Manhattan record for three pointers converted (167).  Richards achieved the record during  the December 20th 73-69 victory over Morgan State.  

During the game, Senior Emmy Andjuar led Manhattan with 21 points becoming the 36th player to score 1000 career points as a Jasper. Manhattan plays 4 of its next 6 games at home including A Saturday evening match-up against Niagara. 

Bronx News Sports: VCU Defeats Fordham in A-10 Conference Opener

Bronx News Sports: VCU Defeats Fordham in A-10 Conference Opener: VCU Defeats Fordham in A-10 Conference Opener #Fordham By Howard Goldin BRONX, NEW YORK, JANUARY 5- The first steps toward M...

VCU Defeats Fordham in A-10 Conference Opener

VCU Defeats Fordham in A-10 Conference Opener

#Fordham

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, JANUARY 5- The first steps toward March Madness of 2015 took place on the first weekend of 2015 as the NCAA conferences began their schedules. On Sunday afternoon, the VCU Rams (11-3, 1-0), the pre-season selection of Atlantic-10 coaches and SIDs to finish first in the conference visited the Rose Hill Gym in the Bronx to face the team selected to finish last, the Fordham Rams (5-7, 0-1).

The visitors, under the able direction of Shaka Smart, one of the most respected young coaches in college basketball, exhibited why their havoc defense is so feared. VCU forced 14 Fordham turnovers in each half of the game. Fordham’s 28 turnovers exceeded its 20 field goals. Sunday’s contest was the fifth for VCU in which its’ opponents turnovers were equal to or exceeded its field goals. VCU scored 36 points off Fordham’s turnovers, nearly 50 percent of its 75 points, contrasted with Fordham’s 11 scored off VCU’s uncharacteristic 17 turnovers. 

The coaches of both teams spoke of the importance of turnovers in the result. Fordham coach Tom Pecora explained, “28 turnovers, that’s the key. It’s all about ball security.” Smart told reporters, “With some teams, if we apply a lot of pressure, we can get a lot of turnovers.” 

For the fifth straight game, VCU led from start to finish. They scored the first seven points of the contest. Freshman Terry Larrier netted a three at 10:54. In the next minute, 6-3 junior Melvin Johnson followed with two lay-ups. The production of the two Bronx natives gave VCU its first double digit advantage. 

Fordham cut the deficit to single figures in the last five minutes of the half.

Fordham began the second half with a 7-1 scoring run that cut the lead to a single point, 38-37, at 18:35. The short spurt was followed by VCU scoring 14 unanswered points to bring the score to 52-37 six minutes later. The double figure led remained for the final 12 minutes of the game that ended with a VCU victory by a score of 75-58.

Interesting to the nearly full house in the Bronx gym was the fact that two starters on the Virginia university five were natives of the Bronx while not one of the players for Fordham were born in the borough. Melvin Johnson, a junior, has improved his stats each season. Last year, he started 7 of 33 games but averaged double figures in points, 10.4, and was named the Atlantic-10 Sixth Man of the Year. He has started all 14 of the Rams’ games this year and is second in scoring and in minutes played on the team. Johnson scored nine, and had two rebounds, two assists and two steals in 22 minutes against Fordham.

Terry Larrier, a 6-8 freshman, made his first start of the season in his native borough. The most highly rated recruit for VCU since Kendrick in 1991, in 24 minutes on the court on Sunday, scored eight and had one rebound, assist and steal.

Fordham senior Mandell Thomas had a double-double, 14 points and 10 rebounds in the losing cause. Freshman Eric Paschal led Fordham scoring with 15. Sophomore Jon Severe, after an absence of seven games, scored nine in 20 minutes of action.  The VCU coach spoke of Fordham’s youngsters, “I like Fordham’s young players. They just have to get better.”

The Fordham women, on a three point basket by Danielle Padovano with 1.7 seconds on the clock in overtime, edged the Richmond Spiders, 65-64, in the second game of the home doubleheader for Fordham.

Bronx News Sports: Fordham Ends 2014 with a Win

Bronx News Sports: Fordham Ends 2014 with a Win: Fordham Ends 2014 with a Win #Fordham #Basketball By Howard Goldin BRONX, NEW YORK, JANUARY 2- The Fordham Rams men’s basketball team...

Fordham Ends 2014 with a Win

Fordham Ends 2014 with a Win

#Fordham #Basketball

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, JANUARY 2- The Fordham Rams men’s basketball team (5-6) ended 2014 by achieving their most one-sided victory of the season. The 74-54 win over the South Carolina State Bulldogs (4-11) was their second straight win over a team from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) within four days.

The visitors scored the first five points. A jumper by Fordham freshman Chris Sengfelder at 16:45 gave the Rams their first lead of the game. The advantage remained in effect for little more than one minute. The next Fordham lead did not come until more than 10 minutes later, also on a basket by Sengfelder. The half ended with Fordham leading 37-32 after concluding the half with an 18-8 scoring run. Sengfelder’s 12 points on 5 of 7 from the floor were the only double figure performance in the half.

After the half-time break, the Rams continued their onslaught by scoring the first 12 points of the second half to increase their advantage to 17 points, 49-32, with 15:33 left in the contest. The lead never again fell below 14. An end of the game scoring run of 8-2 gave the Rams a decisive win, 74-54.

The disparity in shooting percentage between the two teams deepened in the second half. Fordham’s rose from 48.4 to 56.5 while the Rams’ defense affected a decline in the shootings of the Bulldogs from 40.6 to 29.6.

Sengfelder led all scorers with his career high of 22 points. The native of Germany shot 9 of 13 from the floor and 4 of 5 from the free throw line. As 6 of his 9 baskets were layups, the 6-8 forward gave credit for his high point total to the Fordham guards, “The point guards do a great job of finding me.” 

Fordham’s superiority under the boards was reflected in their 42 points in the paint contrasted with 22 by the Bulldogs. Fordham’s coach Tom Pecora discussed the improvement of the guards on his team, “The guards are doing a better job finding the bigger guys where they can more easily score. It was the second game in a row with 20 assists”

The Atlantic 10 Conference schedule begins on the following weekend. One of the better teams in the conference, VCU, begins 2015 against the Rams at the Rose Hill Gym on January 4.