By MATT ROSENFELD

Erin Rooney is not your average Fordham athlete. A native of Christchurch, New Zealand, which is literally on the other side of the world, Rooney started her college basketball career at Monmouth University in New Jersey. At Monmouth, she would be named captain her sophomore year and earn the Northeast Conference Defensive player of the year. After two years, Rooney decided to transfer to Fordham. Per NCAA transfer rules, she had to sit out the 2011-2012 season, but came back with a vengeance the next year. She became the first Fordham women’s basketball player to be named first team All-Atlantic 10. In just her second year as a Ram, Rooney scored her 1000th point, and is looking to lead Fordham to their first NCAA tournament berth since 1994.

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The Fordham Ram: When did you start playing basketball?

Erin Rooney: I would say at about nine years old.

TFR: Is basketball as prevalent in New Zealand as it is here in the United States?

ER: It is, every sport pretty much is. It’s just not as big as it is here.

TFR: When did coming to the United States become a realistic possibility for you?

ER: Probably going into high school is when I realized it was what I wanted to do.

TFR: Was coming to Monmouth your first time in America?

ER: No, we went on a family trip in 2000.

TFR: What was your first impression of America?

ER: Different and very busy.

TFR: When you decided to come to America to play basketball, what did your parents say?

ER: My parents were all for it. They said if you want to do it, we’ll support you. It was really my choice where I went and who I talked to. They were just there to support me.

TFR: Once you came over here, how often did you talk to or see your family?

ER: I talked to them every day on Skype my first year. I’d say I lived more at home I was on Skype so much. But then as the years went on, it was more like once a week maybe.

TFR: What was the determining factor when you decided to transfer from Monmouth to Fordham?

ER: I went there because coach [Gaitley] recruited me there. I didn’t know anything about Monmouth and they didn’t have what I wanted to study. So, when she left to come here it was basically her again [that helped me decide] and Neuroscience.

TFR: How does Fordham compare to Monmouth?

ER: It’s a lot different, because Monmouth is in the suburbs, it’s by the beach. Here, you’re in the middle of the city, but the campus is beautiful. They’re both beautiful.

TFR: What would it mean to you to earn the school’s first NCAA Tournament berth since 1994?

ER: I’d be speechless if we got there. I’d be absolutely speechless. We got to the Atlantic 10 Championship last year, so I really want to get over the hump this year.

TFR: Finally, do you have any plans after graduation?

ER: I don’t have real plans yet, but I am looking into going to Europe and playing basketball over there.