Dec. 28, 2014 Final Stats
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - In its first test in its new home in the Big Ten, the Rutgers women's basketball team captured its first victory with a 66-51 road win at Indiana on Sunday afternoon at Assembly Hall.
Rutgers, who upped its overall mark to 10-2 on the 2014-15 season, also improved to 6-0 on the road. Indiana, meanwhile, saw a five-game win streak snapped and suffered only its second loss of the year to drop to 10-2.
Returning to the starting lineup after suffering a sprained thumb in the contest against Tennessee, Betnijah Laney (Clayton, Del.) recorded a game-high 20 points and 10 rebounds to register her ninth double-double of the year. Tyler Scaife (Little Rock, Ark.) poured in 16 points of her own, while Kahleah Copper (Philadelphia, Pa.) notched 13 to round out the double-figure scorers for RU.
Indiana was led by Larryn Brooks with 13 points, six of which came from beyond the arc. She was the lone Hoosier in double figures.
The Scarlet Knights scored six straight points to open the contest, however the Hoosiers countered with seven consecutive points of their own. Rutgers would reclaim the lead on two free throws from Scaife, however, Indiana would hold the Scarlet Knights without a field goal for over six minutes.
Laney ended the drought for RU at the 9:08 minute mark, tying the score 10-10 but the Hoosiers would go on to create their largest lead of the half at 15-10 moments later.
Although the Hoosiers would find themselves with a 24-20 advantage with 3:10 left in the first half, the Scarlet Knights would go on to close the final minutes with an 8-0 run and carry a 28-24 advantage into the locker room.
Entering the second stanza, Rutgers would never lose its edge. The closest Indiana would come for the remainder of the game was within five as Rutgers held a 34-29 advantage with 15:06 remaining.
A three-pointer from Briana Cahill would bring the game within nine for the Hoosiers with 12:58 to go, but the Scarlet Knights would pull away to maintain at least a double figure edge for the rest of the way.
Coming off the bench, Cynthia Hernandez (Ventura, Calif.) drained three consecutive three pointers to give RU a 50-34 lead with 10:23 remaining.
Rutgers wraps up its three-game roadstand at Ohio State on New Year's Day. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m.
KNIGHT NOTES:
- Starting line-up featuring Rachel Hollivay, Kahleah Copper, Tyler Scaife, Briyona Canty and Betnijah Laney. Laney was back in the starting five after missing the Iona game with a sprained thumb. It was the ninth time it was used. That starting five improved to 7-2 on the year.
- Rutgers improved to 6-0 on the road.
- The Scarlet Knights have led at the half in all 12 contests to date. RU held a 28-24 halftime edge on the Hoosiers.
- Indiana entered the contest averaging 84.6 points per game, second in the league by 0.1 point behind Maryland. Their 51 points marked a season low and their fewest since its only other loss of the season - a 65-61 overtime setback against Indiana State.
- The Hoosiers were ninth nationally in field goal percentage (.485) entering the game but was held to 15-of-50 (30.0 percent) by the Scarlet Knights, marking a season-low.
- Indiana was averaging 18.6 assists per game, ranking ninth nationally to start the game. The Hoosiers finished with a season-low seven assists.
- Betnijah Laney returned from injury for her ninth double-double of the season and 24th of her career with 20 points and 10 rebounds.
- With her 20 points, Laney moved up two positions into 30th on RU's all-time scoring leaders list with 1,068 - surpassing Kristen Foley (1982-87) and Michelle Campbell (2002-06). She now needs 10 more points to move past Patty Delehanty (1978-82) into 29th all-time.
- With her 10 rebounds, Laney moved up two positions into 12th on RU's all-time rebounding leaders list with 708 - surpassing Janell Williams (1991-95) and Essence Carson (2004-08). She needs 38 more boards to move ahead of LaTonya Johnson (1988-92) for 11th all-time.
- Tyler Scaife added in 16 points and has reached double figure scoring in 39 of her 49 career appearances.
- Scaife went 6-of-6 from the free throw line marking the seventh time she has gone perfect when connecting on three or more from the charity stripe in her career.
- Kahleah Copper netted 13 points in the win and is now less than 100 points from becoming the 35th Scarlet Knight to reach the 1,000 career point mark. She currently has 908 career points.
- Cythnia Hernandez finished 3-of-4 from three-point range. This season, thru 12 games played, Hernadez has amassed 11 made three-point field goals. Last season, Briyona Canty led RU with 13 three-pointers from beyond the arc.
- Rachel Hollivay hauled in a season-high 12 rebounds and has reached double-digit rebounds in her last three games. In games with Tennessee, Iona and Indiana, the junior center has averaged 10.7 rebounds.
- Syessence Davis finished with six assists and six steals. It was the fifth time this season and 31st time in her career she has finished with five or more assists in a game. It was also the fifth time this season and 40th time in her career she has closed a game with three or more steals.
- Rutgers held a 45-33 advantage on the boards and has led its opponents on the glass in11 of its 12 games.
- The Hoosiers committed 21 turnovers. Rutgers opponents have registered 20 or more miscues in nine of the 12 games played thus far.
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