Nov. 28, 2012

Bronx, NY - Fresh off a Thanksgiving West Coast swing, the Fordham Rams are back in the friendly confines of the Rose Hill Gym for a match up with cross-borough rival Manhattan College.

After falling to a tough Pacific team in Stockton, California on Friday night, the Rams looking to regain their winning ways that had left them unbeaten prior to the loss at Pacific. With a win, Fordham would move to 5-1 for the first time since 1996-1997.

In order to reach that mark, Fordham will have to best a Manhattan team that they downed a year ago in Draddy Gymnasium in Coach Stephanie Gaitley's first time facing Manhattan on the Fordham bench.

The Rams and Jaspers are certainly no strangers to one another, as Fordham has faced off against Manhattan more than any other program in school history. This will be the 44th meeting overall between the two schools, with the Jaspers holding the aggregate advantage by a 24-19 margin. Good news for the Rams though comes in the form of historical home court advantage; when taxed with defending their home hardwood, Fordham holds a 13-7 record against the Jaspers.

While the Jaspers have struggled so far this year dropping three out of their first four contests, Manhattan's offense features three separate scorers averaging in double figures, with Monica Roeder leading the way at 15.5 points per outing.

Prior to their loss Friday night in California, the Rams stood at 4-0 for only the third time in program history and the first since the 1995-1996 campaign. The Rams success so far has been in large part to a complimentary mixing of new and returning talent.

Senior guard Arielle Collins and junior tri-captain Abigail Corning have proven critical to the Rams winning ways early. The Hamilton, New Jersey native has averaged over seven points and three assists per game while also ranking atop the squad in steals. Corning has done it all for the Rams so far this season, leading the team in rebounds and assists in addition putting up six points per tilt.

After both sitting out last season, Marah Strickland and Erin Rooney have made an immediate impact for the Rams so far in 2012-2013. Averaging 13.5 and 13 points per game, respectively, Strickland and Rooney top the team in scoring while both ranking in the top 15 in the A10 in the same category.

Tip off is set for 7 PM and the game can be streamed live on fordhamsports.com, or you can listen by going to wfuvsports.org, where D.J. Sixsmith and Mike Watts will bring you the broadcast live from the Rose Hill Gym.