Feb. 1, 2013

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BRONX, N.Y. - After snapping their longest winning streak in two decades last week against Duquesne, the Fordham Rams look to get back on the winning side of things when they host the Rams of Virginia Commonwealth on Saturday in the Rose Hill Gym.

Looking for their fifth win in conference action, the Fordham Rams could match their highest-ever Atlantic 10 win total just six games into league play.

SERIES HISTORY: Saturday marks the first ever meeting between the Rams of Rose Hill and the Rams of VCU.

VCU is one of two new additions to the conference this season, as Butler is also playing their first slate in the conference since coming over from the Horizon League. VCU played its basketball as a member of the Colonial Athletic Assocation prior to joining the A-10.

SCOUTING VCU: Midway through their first season as a member of the Atlantic 10, the VCU Rams have struggled so far in their new league. The Rams are 8-13, and following a loss to top seeded Dayton on Wednesday, sit at just 1-5 in conference play.

Despite the team's losing record, junior Robyn Parks has been the toast of the A-10. The Waldorf, Md., native averages 17.7 points per game in addition to a team-best 7.7 boards per outing. Parks also ranks eighth in the conference in field goal percentage, converting on over 47 percent of her tries from the floor. She also leads the Rams with 48 steals, well over two per contest.

An A-10 Rookie of the Week honoree in December, freshman guard Jessica Pellechio has proven vital for the Rams in her first season under Coach Stollings. She ranks second on the team in scoring at 10.5 points per game and second in steals with just under two per outing.

LAST TIME OUT: Despite a career performance from Samantha Clark and a season-best effort from Arielle Collins, Fordham fell for the first time in Atlantic 10 play this season on Sunday, losing to Duquesne 68-50 in the Palumbo Center.

With the loss Fordham fell to 14-6 (4-1), while the Dukes improved to 16-3 (5-0).

Fordham struggled to gain its scoring touch early, not finding the bottom of the bucket until Arielle Collins sank a free throw nearly seven minutes into the game. Duquesne jumped out to an 11-0 lead during that time.

The Rams converted on their first field goal attempt when Charlotte Stoddart connected on a three-pointer to make the score 11-4 in favor of the Dukes with 11:12 remaining in the opening half.

Duquesne continued its hot hand over the rest of the half, extending its lead to 38-18 heading into the locker room.

Duquesne shot 52 percent from the floor and 67 percent from three in the first half.

Entering the game with the 14th best turnover average in the nation, the Rams had an incredibly uncharacteristic first half. Fordham surrendered 15 turnovers in the opening stanza, 1.5 more than they averaged per game heading into Sunday. For the game, the Rams turned the ball over a season-high 23 times leading to 31 points off turnovers for the Dukes.

Fordham cut the Duquesne lead to 16, 42-26, on a Clark layup from Erin Rooney just over three minutes into the second half. But the Dukes began to pull away once again, using an 8-0 run to move ahead by 24, 50-26, not three minutes later.

Fordham cut the lead to less than 20 on two occasions over the remainder of the game, but the Dukes ended up coming out with 68-50 victory on their home floor.

Clark finished the game with a career-high 19 points for the Rams. The Neptune, N.J., native also pulled down 11 boards, securing her third double-double of the season.

Collins scored a season-high 17 points in the losing effort and tied a season-high with eight boards.

WHO'S NEXT: The Rams will hit the road once again after Saturday's contest against VCU, heading to Philadelphia on Wednesday to take on La Salle in the Gola Arena. Game time is set for 7 PM and you can listen to the action on wfuvsports.org.