Feb. 11, 2013

Doug Feinberg of the Associated Press details the success of Fordham's women's basketball team under second-year coach Stephanie Gaitley, who has led the Rams to a winning season for the first time since 1994-95. 

NEW YORK (AP) — It was only a few years ago when Fordham was the laughing stock of women's basketball, setting a record for futility.

Now second-year coach Stephanie Gaitley has the Rams near the top of the Atlantic 10.

"I thought about that the other day and I don't want us to enjoy it too early," Gaitley said after a 68-57 loss to No. 18 Dayton on Sunday night. "There's so much left to do. The second we let it seep in is the second we'll lose the next challenge."

The Rams (16-7) have already reached victory milestones they haven't achieved in decades. They clinched their first winning season since 1994-95. Fordham also won 10 games out of the conference for the first time since 1983-84. Not too shabby for a team that went 0-29 in 2008 to set the NCAA record for losses in a season.

None of the current players were on that team and the Rams have benefited from two stellar transfers. Erin Rooney followed Gaitley from Monmouth when she took over the Rams' program two years ago. Rooney had to sit out last season because of transfer rules, but has made an impact this year.

Marah Strickland also transferred into Fordham after spending time at Maryland and South Carolina. The two transfers are leading the team in scoring, averaging 13.9 points each.

"We don't accept losing," Rooney said. "It's not what we want to be as a program. It's great to be a part of making history every game, but it's something that we won't really think about until the end of the season when the tournament comes around." READ MORE