Women's Basketball to Host Harvard on Friday in Opening Round of WNIT

2018 WNIT Bracket
 
Fort Collins, Colo. – The Fordham women's basketball team's 2018 campaign continues this week as it was announced late Monday night that the Rams have received and accepted an invitation to participate in this year's WNIT. Fordham (22-9) will host Harvard (18-10) on Friday with tip-off still to be announced on Tuesday. The Rams have previously competed in the WNIT three times, all under head coach Stephanie Gaitley – in 2013, 2015, and 2017.
 
"It's always an honor to play in the postseason; it is a reward for a successful season," Gaitley said, "I am very proud of our team and look forward to taking on Harvard on Friday. I'm hoping the Fordham community will be ready to rock Rose Hill!"

Fordham secured its fifth 20-win season in the last seven seasons and 10th in program history and the team's 22 wins haved tied last year's mark for fifth-most in school history. Leading the way for the Rams this season are the program's first-ever conference Defensive Player of the Year, G'mrice Davis, who was also named First Team All-Conference for a second straight year, and redshirt freshman Bre Cavanaugh, who became Fordham's first rookie to earn All-Conference honors with her Second Team recognition.
 
The Rams hold a 4-3 all-time record in the postseason WNIT. Last year, Fordham rallied to erase a halftime deficit and defeat Georgetown on the road before falling in the second round at Penn State. The furthest the program has reached was the third round, losing at James Madison after defeating both Army and Boston University at home in 2013.
 
Last year was also the last time Harvard visited the Rose Hill Gym, although the two schools didn't face each other in the 10^th annual Fordham Holiday Classic. The last time the Rams played the Crimson was in 2013, also in the Bronx, which Fordham won, 66-44. The all-time series is split, 2-2, dating back to 1986.
 
The winner of Friday's contest will advance to take on either Drexel or Robert Morris between March 17-20.
 
This will be Gaitley's eighth career trip to the WNIT. Under Gaitley, the Rams have reached the postseason in five of seven seasons.