Rutgers Picked 2nd In BIG EAST Preseason Poll
Oct 26 | Women's Basketball
NEW YORK, N.Y. - The Rutgers women's basketball team was selected second in the 2006-07 BIG EAST Preseason Coaches' Poll, it was announced on Thursday at the BIG EAST Women's Basketball Media Day at the ESPN Zone in New York, N.Y. Scarlet Knight juniors Matee Ajavon (Newark, N.J.) and Essence Carson (Paterson, N.J.) were named to the Preseason All-BIG EAST Team, while sophomore Kia Vaughn (Bronx, N.Y.) earned honorable mention.
Rutgers picked up five of the 16 first-place votes and 215 points overall as the second-place pick in the preseason poll behind Connecticut, which received 11 first-place votes and 221 points. DePaul was picked third (179), followed by Louisville fourth (176) and Pittsburgh fifth (152).
The Scarlet Knights have also been featured in the top 20 of several national polls. RU was picked ninth by both Lindy's and SportsMagazine.com, 11th by CSTV.com, 14th by Street & Smith's, 18th by Athlon, 19th by CBS Sportsline and 20th in Liberman's Top 25.
Rutgers, ranked ninth in the WBCA/ESPN/USA Today Top 25 Poll at the end of the 2005-06 season, posted a 27-5 overall record and advanced to the regional semifinals of the 2006 NCAA Tournament. The Scarlet Knights compiled a perfect 16-0 mark in BIG EAST Conference regular-season play to win their second straight outright BIG EAST regular-season crown.
Ajavon averaged 12.6 points and team bests of 4.5 assists and 2.6 steals per game last season, earning a spot on the All-BIG EAST First Team after starting 23 of RU's 32 games. A preseason candidate for the 2006 Naismith National Player of the Year Award, the 5-8 guard was the 2005 BIG EAST Freshman of the Year, averaging 12.4 points and a team-high 3.5 assists and 2.2 steals per contest. Ajavon also was named to the All-BIG EAST Second Team, the BIG EAST All-Tournament Team and the NCAA Tournament All-Philadelphia Region Team as a rookie.
Carson, the 2006 BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year, started all 27 games for the Scarlet Knights during the regular season, averaging 8.3 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game. The 6-0 guard posted 12 double-digit scoring games and one double-double during her sophomore season. Carson was also a gold-medalist at the 2006 FIBA Americas U20 Championship in Mexico City, Mexico.
Vaughn, a gold-medalist at the 2006 FIBA America U20 Championship, posted averages of 6.3 points to go along with team bests of 7.0 rebounds and 2.1 blocked shots per game in her rookie season.
Veteran head coach C. Vivian Stringer and the women's basketball team will open play on Saturday, Nov. 4, at 2:00 p.m., with an exhibition game against the Houston Jaguars at the RAC. The official 2006-07 season-opener will be on Sunday, Nov. 12, against Georgia at the State Farm Tip-off Classic. The game, scheduled for a 1:00 p.m. start, will be nationally televised on ESPN2.
Rutgers basketball fans can get an early look at the women's and men's teams at the annual FanFest on Saturday, Oct. 28, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Louis Brown Athletic Center (RAC). Admission to the event is free and doors open at 1:45 p.m.
Everyone in attendance will receive a copy of the 2006-07 Rutgers women's and men's basketball posters (while supplies last). Fans will also have a chance to meet and get autographs from the members of the 2006-07 women's basketball programs. The event will also feature the Rutgers Kids' Zone, equipped with music, inflatable rides/games, temporary tattoos and much more. In addition, there will be performances by the RU cheer and dance teams, as well as the Scarlet Knight Pep Band.
2006-07 Preseason Coaches' Poll1. Connecticut (11) 221
2006-07 Preseason Player of the YearJessica Dickson, Sr., F, USF
2006-07 Preseason Freshman of the YearTina Charles, Fr., C, Connecticut (Jamaica, N.Y./Christ the King)
2006-07 Preseason All-BIG EAST TeamMatee Ajavon, Jr., G, RutgersEssence Carson, Jr., G/F, RutgersAngela Clark, Sr., F, St. John's
*unanimous selection 2006-07 Preseason All-BIG EAST Honorable MentionCharde Houston, Jr., F, Connecticut
2. Rutgers (5) 2153. DePaul 179
4. Louisville 176
5. Pittsburgh 152
6. St. John's 148
7. USF 136
8. Marquette 123
9. West Virginia 117
10. Villanova 110
11. Notre Dame 108
12. Cincinnati 82
13. Georgetown 57
14. Providence 45
15. Syracuse 30
16. Seton Hall 21
*Jazz Covington, Sr., C, Louisville
*Jessica Dickson, Sr., F, USF
Renee Montgomery, So., G, Connecticut
Christina Quaye, Sr., F, Marquette
Allie Quigley, Jr., G, DePaul
Marcedes Walker, Jr., C, Pittsburgh
Mallorie Winn, R-Sr., G, Pittsburgh
*Kia Wright, R-Jr., G, St. John's
Treasure Humphries, Sr., G, Cincinnati
Kia Vaughn, So., C, Rutgers
