News & Notes, 3/6-3/12

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News & Notes for the week of 3/6-3/12 (Dylan Balsamo)

By Dylan Balsamo

Women’s Hoops Takes Title
Women’s Basketball took home the 2019 Atlantic 10 Championship after winning the Conference Tournament. In the Tournament, they defeated sides from UMass, Duquesne and finally VCU on Sunday. Coach Stephanie Gaitley said of Sunday’s win, “We stayed together through their runs and we were patient on offense. I’m especially happy for Mary and Lauren, our seniors, because they gave it their all and really wanted this for themselves and their teammates. There’s still more work to be done!” The Rams have now clinched a spot in the NCAA Tournament, for which the bracket will be announced on Monday March 18.

Women’s Rowing Names Assistant
On Thursday March 7, Women’s Rowing head coach Ted Bonanno named Jenn Thomas as the team’s newest assistant coach. After spending the fall of 2018 as the head coach of the squad at Franklin & Marshall College, Thomas came to the Rams volunteering as an assistant in December of 2018 and had been serving in that role until the announcement on Thursday. Thomas’s other experience includes positions at Cambridge Ringe & Latin School, RowAmerica, and Boston University Rec Rowing.

Softball Postponed
Fordham Softball was scheduled to play their home opener on the afternoon of March 6 at Murphy Field against Lafayette, but the game was postponed due to the inclement weather. No potential make up dates have been announced at this point. While the Rams will now not play their first home game until April 6 when they host a doubleheader with Dayton, their next matchups come on March 15, the beginning of the Mercer Bears Classic, against Cleveland State and Connecticut.

Football Starts Practices
Second-year Football head coach Joe Conlin opened the book on his sophomore season at Fordham, as the Rams held their first spring practice on Thursday March 7 on Murphy Field. Both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball return six starters, with the defense highlighted by All-American Glenn Cunningham and Freshman All-American Ryan Greenhagen and the offense returning Second Team All-Patriot lineman Nick Zakelj. The Rams will hold 13 more spring practices before their annual Spring Game April 13.