KNIGHT NOTEBOOK: R First B1G Practice
Oct 09 | Women's Basketball
PISCATAWAY, N.J. (October 9, 2014) - The Rutgers women's basketball team officially kicked off the 2014-15 season on Wednesday morning with its first practice of the season. The Scarlet Knights, a team that returns five starters and 10 letterwinners and adds two freshmen guards and a pair of junior college three-point threats, are looking to continue momentum from its 2014 WNIT Championship into its inaugural season of Big Ten competition and dance their way into the NCAA Tournament.
"Practice was really exciting. We had a lot of energy. Coach (Stringer) is pumped for this year and everybody just wants to get better," said returning leading scorer, Kahleah Copper. Copper, the WNIT Most Valuable Player averaged 16.1 points per game along with 6.2 rebounds per game. Last season was certainly no sophomore slump for the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania native, who was consistently one of the American Athletic Conference's top shooters, knocking down shots at a 52.1 percent clip and hitting over 80 percent three times. She opened the season with 11-straight double-figure scoring games and finished in double digits in all but five games, which included 11 contests with 20 or more points.
"We still have the chemistry from last season, even with the newcomers," Copper added. "They are picking up on a lot of the different concepts we run and Coach is really patient with them. The chemistry has been there and that is most important." While it was RU's first official practice, the team acknowledges that preparation for the upcoming season began almost immediately after returning from El Paso with the WNIT trophy in hand.
"You cannot wait until the first practice to decide that you want to work. It really starts in the preseason," said senior Betnijah Laney, one of four seniors featured on this season's roster. "I've seen that not only myself, but my teammates have done a great job making sure we do that. Whether it is getting in extra condition or getting extra shots, we got a feel of what we were getting into."
"The WNIT win has motivated us because we know we want to achieve even more," Laney noted. "We want to be in the NCAAs . It has set the tone for this year. We want to be better."
Laney, while always striving to improve, has already had impressive numbers the last three season. RU's double-double machine, Laney captured 15 double-figure scoring and rebounding games and comes into the 2014-15 season as the team leader on the boards at 8.5 rebounds per game. However, away from the stat sheet, Laney provides RU with invaluable leadership and insatiable desire to succeed.
Awaiting the Scarlet Knights is an elevated schedule, not only featuring nonconference powerhouses in Tennessee and North Carolina, along with the St. Joseph's squad that reached the second round of play in the NCAA Tournament, but teams in one of the premier women's basketball conference. Rutgers first season of Big Ten play will have the Scarlet Knights going against 11 members of the league that reached post-season play, including fellow newcomer Maryland, that made it to the Final Four. Penn State reached the "Sweet 16", while Nebraska, Michigan State, Iowa, and Purdue all advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The Big Ten also featured four teams in the WNIT including quarterfinalist Indiana along with Minnesota, Northwestern and Michigan, all whom reached the third round of play.
"I am most excited about the schedule. We have such great competition this year," said Copper. "We are walking into every game knowing that we have to fight for it. Nothing will be handed to us. The schedule is really strong."
At the same time, there are those that aren't even looking at the names on the schedule.
"I am excited to play. I am ready to get out there and compete," said Syessence Davis when asked about this year's slate. "I don't care who the opponent is. I am always ready to play."
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-RU-
