Rutgers Heads to Virgin Islands for Paradise Jam
Nov 22 | Women's Basketball
The Scarlet Knights (1-2) are competing in the Paradise Jam on the island of St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Rutgers faces Penn State on Friday, Nov. 24 at 8:30 p.m. EST.
Friday's game against Penn State marks the 37th meeting between the programs. The Scarlet Knights lead the all-time series by a slim 19-18 margin and the meeting is the first since a 54-43 Penn State win on Nov. 19, 1997. The two teams met five times during the 1985-86 campaign with the Scarlet Knights bringing home four wins.
The Rutgers game will be a reunion for head coach C. Vivian Stringer and Penn State head coach Rene Portland. Their friendshipp and coaching rivalry goes back to Coach Stringer's days at Cheney State (Pa.) and Portland's tenure at Saint Joseph's. The two also met on the hardcourt when Penn State joined the Big Ten and Stringer served at Iowa. Assistant coach Marianne Stanley and Portland were teammates at Immaculata where the pair combined to lead Immaculata to three-straight national championships.
Rutgers won the Pardise Jam tournament in 2004. Michelle Campbell was tabbed MVP while Matee Ajavon and Chelsea Newton earned all-tournament honors. GAME NOTES
Epipphanny Prince leads the Scarlet Knights in scoring, averaging 19.3 points per game. The first-year player was selected the BIG EAST freshman of the week this past Monday. She is also averaging 4.3 rebounds and 4.3 assists per contest and has scored in double figures in all three games.
Center Kia Vaughn, with three career double-doubles to her credit last season, has registered two already in 06-07. The Bronx native is averaging 15.7 points and 7.7 boards for the Scarlet Knights.
Rutgers is fresh off its first victory of the season, an 88-71 victory over Florida on Nov. 18. In the contest, they hit a record-tying 10 three-point field goals.
