Box Score
WORCESTER, Mass.- The Rams expected Saturday's matchup with previously unbeaten Holy Cross to be one of their toughest tests of the young season, facing off against a team that topped the NCAA in more than a few offensive categories. The Rams passed that test with flying colors, destroying the Crusaders 75-49 in Worcester, Mass.
With the win, the Rams improve to 7-2 on the season, their best start since the 1993-1994 squad won the Patriot League title and made the program's only NCAA Tournament appearance. The Rams' current six-game winning streak also marks the first time the Rams have had at least a six-game streak in consecutive seasons since 1991-1992 and 1992-1993.
Erin Rooney continued her season-long hot streak on Saturday, scoring a game-high 22 points on 9-15 shooting and pulling down five boards. To put it in perspective just how dominant the Christchurch, New Zealand native has been this year, 22 points actually brought down her season scoring average. The win also marked her eighth game in nine tries with at least 20 points (she had 19 in the other).
Abigail Corning found it hard to miss a shot in the victory, tallying 20 points on 9-11 shooting. The Wethersfield, Conn., native also grabbed seven boards and dished out a game-high five assists..
Samantha Clark and Emily Tapio were two of four Rams to score double figures, as Clark finished with 11 points and seven rebounds, while Tapio put up ten points, five boards, and four assists.
The two squads proved evenly matched over the game's opening minutes, with the Rams and Crusaders tied at 11 coming out of the game's first media timeout six and a half minutes into the contest. Clark scored five of Fordham's 11 during that stretch.
With the score tied at 15 a few minutes later, Corning and Hannah Missry connected on consecutive threes, pushing the Rams ahead by six with just over nine minutes to go in the half.
The Rams continued to build their lead over the remainder of the opening half, anchored by strong performances from Corning and Clark. The senior scored seven and the sophomore scored six in a 13-4 Fordham run to end the half, allowing the Rams to enter the locker room with a 36-24 advantage.
Corning led all scorers in the first half with 14, while Clark chipped in 11 and Rooney added eight.
The Rams came out hot following the intermission, extending their lead to 16, 45-29, by the under-16 minute media timeout of half number two.
Fordham never stopped their push in the second half, rattling off an 18-3 run over the course of just seven minutes, putting the game well out of reach for the crusaders.
The Rams would extend their lead as high as 32 on a Rooney jumper with a touch under four minutes to go before a late Holy Cross surge pulled them within 26 within the Fordham starters on the bench.
Tapio had a terrific second half for the Rams, scoring all ten of her points in the latter stanza.
Fordham will have the week off from competition to focus on final exams, next taking the court on December 15th at home against Illinois State. That game will tip at 2 PM.
