By Aaron M Smith
BROOKLYN, NY – Tradition never comes easy. It is a process that will never give the luxury of being instantaneous and almost certainly will produce heartache. On Saturday night, tradition was vicious to the Fordham Ram women’s basketball team as they dropped a heartbreaker in the Atlantic 10 Conference tournament championship to Saint Joseph’s, 47-46.
To understand what Coach Stephanie Gaitley and her coach staff have brought to the women’s basketball program, you need not go any further than the team’s media guide where the phrase “Tradition begins now!” sits on the front cover.
Stuck in mediocrity for years, Coach Gaitley has brought both an impressive coaching resume and new enthusiasm to the program. In just her third season on campus, the program had a major opportunity to jump forward. To come up just one point short was well – cruel.
From the opening tip it was obvious that Fordham was out to prove that their appearance was no fluke.
Abigail Corning got the scoring started for Fordham when she received an Arielle Collins pass off the wing, curled off a screen set by Collins, pulling up for the foul line jumper and a 2-0 lead.
After a Chatilla van Grinsven miss Arielle Collins found Marah Strickland up the floor who pulled up in transition for the three pointer, 5-0.
In fact the Rams raced to an early 12-0 lead before a pair of Ashley Prim free throws finally stopped the run. The veteran Hawks however, did not panic and began to whittle away at the lead. By halftime the lead was just eight, 24-16.
The second half started and it was obvious that St. Joseph’s had found its shooting stroke, and when an Ashley Prim three pointer dropped, the Hawks were up 40-36 with 4:25 left to play.
Showing their resiliency, the Rams quickly responded. Strickland drilled her third trifecta to bring Fordham within one, 40-39.
On the ensuing possession, Corning provided a triple of her own for the 42-40 lead.
Erin Shields countered for the Hawks to put them ahead, 43-42.
Ultimately the teams battled to the very end and when Strickland’s half court shot fell short, it was the St. Joseph’s Hawks bench that spilled on to the floor in celebration
Afterwards in listening to the Rams and Coach Gaitley, it is hard not to see that this is more a speed bump than roadblock for the basketball program.
”I mean, I just have to say how proud I am of this team and how hard we have been working since day one‑‑ and just how proud I am of the girls coming out ‑‑ to be able to do what we did,” an emotional Strickland explained. “The girls worked so hard to turn around Fordham women’s basketball, so really proud.”
The accomplishments for this Fordham team are impressive. The 20-win season was the first since 1993-1994 and the 24-8 record is the program’s best since the late 1970s. The Rams’ victories in the quarterfinals and semifinals in the A-10 conference tournament were the first in the program’s history.
Gaitley quickly added her own thoughts about this team. “You know, I think this group of kids, right now is hurts too much for them to recognize what they have done. I think in a month or so, they will be able to reflect back and see the accomplishments because we kind of are just in the moment so to speak for the last couple months and we just try not to look ahead and as we refer to, win the day as people, win the day as students, and win the day as players.”
Atlantic 10 coaches are quick to compliment the job that Coach Gaitley and her staff have done with the program.
“Coach Gaitley has done an unbelievable job with that group. They really play well together, and they play with five or six kids and they can interchange them in so many different ways,” Coach Cindy Griffin commented. “You really have to be able to defend multiple people, and you know, they came out really strong today, and did an unbelievable job.”
As for the future, it is bright for the Rams. While Fordham does say good-bye to seniors Arielle Collins, Charlotte Stoddart and graduate student Marah Strickland, the Rams do return three starters – juniors Erin Rooney, Abigail Corning and freshman Samantha Clark. Recruits Hannah Missry (Jackson, NJ/ Jackson Memorial), Danielle Burns (Gainesville, VA/Stonewall Jackson) and Danielle Padovano (Dayton, NJ/ South Brunswick) will join a strong Rams team in time for the 2013-14 season.
On Saturday night the rest of the Atlantic 10 conference was firmly put on notice – tradition has arrived at Fordham.
Aaron Smith can be reached at @PicknSplinters
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