Jan. 16, 2013
BRONX, N.Y. -
Fresh off their first ever win against the Charlotte 49ers and their first win in an A-10 road opener since 1998, the Fordham Rams return to the Rose Hill Gym to take on the Minutewomen of UMass.
Winners of their last four, the Rams look to move to 2-0 in the A-10 for the first time in program history on Wednesday night.
SERIES HISTORY: Tonight's game marks the 33rd meeting all-time between the Rams and the Minutewomen, with the first ever matchup coming all the way back in the 1979-1980 campaign.
Since the two became conference foes in the 1995-1996 season, UMass holds a 19-8 advantage over the Rams. Fordham, however, has come out on top in the last two meetings, including a 56-54 victory in Amherst a year ago.
SCOUTING UMASS: Picked to finish second to last in the conference before the season, UMass has stuggled in their first 16 games. Entering tonight's game with a 3-13 record, the Minutewomen only improved to such a mark when they bested George Washington at home in their A-10 opener.
Offensively, the Minutewomen are led by Jasmine Watson. The 6'3" center from South Bend, Ind., leads UMass with 12.6 points per game. Watson is joined in the UMass front court by Rashida Timbilla, who ranks third on the team in scoring with 9.4 points per contest. The Ottawa, Ontario, native also leads the team in rebounding, pulling in 8.4 boards per game, including nearly four per game on the offensive glass. Her offensive rebounding numbers are good enough for third in the conference.
As a team, UMass has struggled mightily with turnovers, surrending 22 possesions per game. The Rams, on the other hand, rank 15th in the nation in that category with only 13.9 turnovers per game.
WE BACK PAT: At tonight's game against UMass and at Sunday's contest against Richmond, the Fordham women's basketball team will be collecting donations as part of "We Back Pat" Week, with all proceeds going to the Pat Summit Foundation. Founded by legendary Tennesee women's basketball coach Pat Summitt, the charity helps raise money for Alzheimer's Research in addition to raising awareness about the devastating disease.
