Rams Grab Holiday Classic Title

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Over her nearly three decades on the bench, Coach Stephanie Gaitley has made a living off relentless defense.  During her team's current winning streak, Gaitley has certainly stayed true to her modus operandi. 
 
Fordham downed Harvard, 64-44, in the Rose Hill Gym Monday afternoon, marking the team's tenth straight win and their eleventh victory in non-conference play, a school record.  Their ten game tear matches another school record achieved by the Rams during the 1976-77 campaign.  Over the last ten games, the Rams have allowed just 49.9 points per game and have surrendered no more than 50 points in their last six.
 
The win marked just the second time that the Rams have taken home the title in the own tournament, with their last Fordham Holiday Classic Championship coming in 2008.
 
On the afternoon, Tournament MVP Erin Rooney led the Rams once again, finishing with 19 points, four rebounds and a pair of assists.  This followed up a well-rounded performance in Sunday's win over UNCG in which the Christchurch, New Zealand, native tallied 16 points, eight assists, and seven boards.
 
Abigail Corning also earned a spot on the All-Tournament Team, registering nine points, 12 rebounds, and half-dozen helpers.
 
Samantha Clark finished in double-figures for the second straight game, tying a season-high with 12 points in addition to grabbing five boards and dishing out three assists.
 
Hannah Missry fell just short of the ten-point plateau for the second consecutive day, connecting on three long balls for nine points.
 
As a team, the Rams pounded the Crimson on the glass, out-rebounding Harvard 47-33.  Emily Tapio impressed with eight boards, while Mary Nwachukwu added six.   Nwachukwu also had six points on 3-5 shooting.
 
Harvard got  on the board first in the opening minute, but the Rams responded with a quartet of three point shots, as Corning, Clark, Rooney, and Missry drained from deep to put the Rams up 12-4 three and a half minutes into the contest.  The Rams were 4-5 from beyond the arc at the first media timeout.
 
The Crimson scored six in a row to make it a two point game, but Rooney connected again from downtown to put the Rams back up by five, 15-10, with just over 13 minutes to go in the first half.
 
Rooney's long ball kicked off an 8-2 Rams run, as Missry's second three-pointer of the game moved Fordham ahead 20-12 just inside the eight minute mark.
 
Harvard cut it to six on the following possession, but the Rams answered right back with ten in a row, as seven points from Clark and an and-one from Tapio made it 30-14 Rams with four and a half minutes remaining until the break. 
 
Harvard showed more consistency on the offensive end to start the second half, hitting five field goals by the first media timeout after only converting on three the entire first half.  The Rams, however, managed to maintain their lead at a comfortable margin, leading Harvard 44-31 at the 12:14 mark of the stanza.
 
From there, the Rams uncorked an 8-3 run, moving ahead 52-34 with just under eight minutes to go.
 
The Crimson made a little bit of a run to get back within 13 a few minutes later, but the Rams closed out the game with a purpose, downing Harvard, 64-44.
 
All-Tournament Team
Erin Rooney (MVP) - Fordham
Abigail Corning- Fordham
Temi Fagbenle- Harvard
Mariah Turner- Tulsa
Janae' Stevenson- UNCG