Box Score Photo Gallery (Darl Zehr)
Coach Smith Post-Game Interview

ITHACA, N.Y. -- Fordham went on a 12-4 run over the final five minutes to close out Cornell in a see-saw battle, handing the Big Red its first loss of the season 58-50 on Sunday afternoon at Newman Arena. The Rams improved to 2-0, while Cornell slipped to 1-1.

The Rams hit 7-of-8 free throws in the final 90 seconds to hold off the Big Red in a game that featured seven ties and four lead changes. Fordham's final margin was the largest of the night for either team. Erin Rooney scored a game-high 15 points, including hitting all six of her free throws down the stratch, while Marah Strickland notched 10 points and grabbed six rebounds. Fordham shot just 36 percent against a staunch Cornell defense and turned the ball over 20 times total.

Allyson DiMagno had 11 points, nine rebounds, four steals and three assists for the Big Red in the loss, while Clare Fitzpatrick added 11 points, two blocks and two steals. Spencer Lane scored eight points and had four assists for Cornell, which dropped its home opener. Cornell was credited with 16 assists as a team and ran effective offense all day, but Fordham's decisive 41-25 edge on the backboards, including 16-9 on the offensive glass, proved too much to overcome.

Tied at 46-46 when Lane hit a driving layup with 7:05 to play, Fordham took control late by holding Cornell to 2-of-9 shooting over the final five minutes. Fordham went up five (51-46) with three minutes to play before the Big Red made a final charge. Fitzpatrick hit a basket in the lane, then DiMagno stole the ball just over halfcourt and found Lane, who streaked to the hoop to make it 51-50 Fordham with a little more than 90 seconds to play. Rooney was then fouled and hit the first two of her six consecutive free throws to end the contest.

The two teams went into the break tied at 28-28 thanks in large part to the 10 turnovers the Big Red defense forced. Cornell limited Fordham to 36 percent shooting while connecting on 46 percent of its own shots. DiMagno had seven points and four rebounds at the break, while both Stephanie Long and Shelby Lyman chipped in six.

The game seemed destined to be decided in the final minutes, as neither team would lead by more than four points for the first 17 minutes of the second half, a stretch that saw seven ties and three lead changes.

Fordham opened the game on a 7-2 run and led throughout the first half until the Big Red embarked on a late 8-0 run to take its first lead with two minutes remaining before halftime on a jumper by DiMagno from the top of the key. Fordham tied it up 30 seconds later when Taryn Durant scored to knot it at 28-28 heading into the break and signaling what was to come after the half.

Cornell returns to action on Wednesday, Nov. 14 when it visits Binghamton for a 7 p.m. contest.