Jan. 10, 2009

Bronx, N.Y. - The Fordham University women's basketball team will open their 2009 Atlantic 10 season today as they host the University of Massachusetts Minutewomen in the Rose Hill Gym at 1:00 p.m.

The Rams (7-8) look to bounce back from a tough over-time loss against the U.S. Naval Academy where Fordham fell to the Mids 70-66. Massachusetts enters today's game also with a 7-8 record after a 63-50 victory against NJIT on January 7th.

Leading the Rams into Atlantic 10 play is junior Randall Hurst, who leads the team in scoring and is 14th in the conference with an average of 12.7 ppg while her 5.8 rebounds per game is a team best. She is joined by freshman Becky Peters, who is coming off of her second straight Atlantic 10 Co-Rookie of the Week award of the year. Peters ranks second on the Rams' squad in scoring (11.6 ppg) and rebounds (5.1 rpg).

Massachusetts boasts the Atlantic 10 second leading scorer with Stefanie Gerardot with 16.4 ppg. The Rams defense will not only have to hold strong against Gerardot but also sophomore shooter Cerie Mosgrove who ranks first in the conference in three-point field goals made (37).

Saturday's game pits the Rams against the Minutewomen for the 29th time. Massachusetts holds a lead in the all-time series 19-9.