TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONSHIP AT THE HALF: #1 Dayton 30, #3 Fordham 29....

Save a brief stretch about five to seven minutes into the game when Dayton, the top-seed, had a chance to open up a double-digit lead but didn't, it has been a battle worthy of the term "championship".

The Rams cut a six-point edge down to one by 10:15 left in the half, then hit back-to-back threes to take a small advantage. A missed opportunity on the final possession of the half by Fordham, where they ran their play, only to kick back to guard Erin Rooney at the point to face a half-court trap with eight seconds left, not giving them enough time to re-run the play before the horn, may be one that's remembered awhile for Rams fans.

Abigail Corning leads the Rams with 9 points, while Rooney has 5 points and 6 tenacious rebounds.

For Dayton, the physical trials of Ally Malott continue. She re-tweaked an ankle that was hurt in the VCU quarterfinal, and bled from an elbow late in the half after drawing a foul inside. She made one-of-two free throws and has 3 points and 5 rebounds.

Conference Player of the Year Andrea Hoover has lived to that billing, leading Dayton with 11 points and 5 rebounds, four of them on the offensive glass, where she makes a living batting balls back out to her guard tandem of Celeste Edwards and Amber Deane. The battle between Edwards, the freshman, and Rooney, the redshirt senior, have been fun to watch. Edwards contributed her six points in the earlier part of the half as Dayton built an early lead that they couldn't hold.

Dayton seeks a stamp of validation in the next 20 minutes. They went unbeaten in the A-10 last year, only to lose in the Tournament Semis. They won the conference again this year at 14-2, but want the Tournament Title, and the NCAA Tournament bid that goes with it, in the worst way.

Fordham seeks to erase the heartbreak of losing in this very Championship Game as a #3 seed a year ago, 47-46 to St. Joseph's. They currently, in ESPN'S Women's Bracketology, are listed in the "Next Four Out" category. It seems only a win puts them in the Big Dance. They'll certainly play in the WNIT if they aren't able to accomplish that.

NOTE: St. Joseph's, though the #5 seed and eliminated in the Tournament Quarterfinals in overtime by George Washington, are currently listed by ESPN as being in the Field of 64 as a #10 seed (down from #9 yesterday) thanks to a very high Strength of Schedule (20) and RPI (17).

Dayton was moved up this morning from a projected #6 seed to a #5 seed. The Tournament field will be announced Monday, March 17th, 7pm on ESPN.