No. 22/23 WBB Travels to Purdue
Jan 28 | Women's Basketball
Jan. 28, 2015
GETTING TO THE POINTS
THIEVING KNIGHTS
Syessence Davis had just one point off a free throw at Penn State on Jan. 10, but contributed a school record tying 10 steals along with eight assists and no turnovers. Davis' 10 steals ties the school record along with Denise Kenney, who also had 10 thefts against St. Joseph's on Feb. 16, 1978. Davis also surpassed her previous high of eight captured against Davidson on Nov. 30.
All-Time RU Steals
The senior guard handed out the ball eight times with no turnovers in RU's 71-51 victory at Penn State on Jan. 10
Davis has committed two turnovers or less in 15 of her 18 games this season.
All-Time RU Assists
Laney's 24 boards against the Tar Heels is also among the best rebounding performances from around the country this season.
Hollivay has registered 32 games with three or more blocks. She currently has 197 career blocks, moving into fifth all-time at RU on the New Year's Day contest with Ohio State.
Follow Rutgers women's basketball on Facebook (www.facebook.com/RutgersWBB ), Twitter (www.twitter.com/RutgersWBB ) and Instagram (www.instagram.com/RutgersWBB ) for all of the latest news and updates. Fans also receive timely information, including special offers and giveaways throughout the year on both social media outlets along with www.ScarletKnights.com.
| Game Twenty: #22/23 Rutgers at Purdue | |
| Date | Thursday, January 28, 2015 |
| Time | 7:00 ET |
| Location | West Lafayette, Ind.| Mackey Arena |
| Tickets | Click To Purchase |
| TV * | BTN Lisa Byington and Stephanie White |
| Radio | Rutgers Student Radio - WRSU (88.7 FM) Chris Morales and Dominick Savino |
| Game Notes | Rutgers | Purdue |
| Statistics | Rutgers | Purdue |
| Social Media | @RutgersWBB  | Facebook/RutgersWBB  |
* BTN Broadcast Schedule - Thursday, January 29
6 p.m. (ET): Men's Basketball: Michigan State @ Rutgers
7 p.m. (ET): Women's Basketball: Rutgers @ Purdue (begins on BTN2Go only)
Approx. 8 p.m. (ET): Joined in Progress: Women's Basketball: Rutgers @ Purdue
9 p.m. (ET): Women's Basketball: Ohio State @ Wisconsin
11 p.m. (ET): BTN Basketball Report
11:30 p.m. (ET): Re-air of Women's Basketball: Rutgers @ Purdue from the opening tip
TIP OFF 6 p.m. (ET): Men's Basketball: Michigan State @ Rutgers
7 p.m. (ET): Women's Basketball: Rutgers @ Purdue (begins on BTN2Go only)
Approx. 8 p.m. (ET): Joined in Progress: Women's Basketball: Rutgers @ Purdue
9 p.m. (ET): Women's Basketball: Ohio State @ Wisconsin
11 p.m. (ET): BTN Basketball Report
11:30 p.m. (ET): Re-air of Women's Basketball: Rutgers @ Purdue from the opening tip
• The 2014 WNIT Champions made it back-to-back wins as they downed No. 25/RV Minnesota on Sunday evening with a 66-61 victory.
• Rutgers improved to 2-4 against the top 25 with the win over the Golden Gophers. It was RU's first home win over a ranked opponent since it's 61-58 victory over No. 16/15 Georgia last season on Dec. 21, 2013.
• Sophomore guard Tyler Scaife netted a season-high 28 points in the victory and was one point shy of her career-high. She hit the double figure mark with 12 minutes remaining in the first half
• Also in the win, Betnijah Laney added in 15 points along with six rebounds and Kahleah Copper netted 13 points.
• The victory improved the Scarlet Knights to 5-3 in conference. RU currently sits in a five-way tie for third place in the league as of Tuesday.
• Thursday's game with the Boilermakers marks the first of two games with Purdue this season. Purdue will make its way to the RAC on Saturday, Feb. 14.
ABOUT PURDUE
Prior to the Dec. 10th win over the Razorbacks, the Scarlet Knights' last win over a nationally ranked opponent was a 61-58 victory over No. 16/15 Georgia on Dec. 21, 2013 at the RAC.
NO SOPHOMORE SLUMP
Scaife has reached double figure scoring in 44 of her 55 career appearances and has led RU in scoring in eight times in 2014-15.
Scaife is averaging 19.5 points per game against nationally ranked opponents this season, which also included 25 points in the Scarlet Knights' double overtime contest with No. 6 UNC on Dec. 4.
CANTY'S COMEBACK
Since her return at Indiana on Dec. 28 to open up conference play, has posted double-doubles in four of her last eight games - Indiana, Ohio State, Michigan and Wisconsin - and narrowly missed out on the feat by one point against No. 20 Iowa on Jan. 4 and one rebound at Penn State on Jan 10.
In her eight games back, all in Big Ten play, the senior Scarlet Knight has averaged 16.1 points and 9.6 boards per game. She has scored 20 or more points in three of the eight games as well.
WELCOME BACK TO THE B1G TIME
400-WIN CLUB
ABOUT PURDUE
The Boilermakers enter Thursday's contest at 10-10 overall and 3-6 in Big Ten play. Purdue has played in back-to-back overtime contests including a 90-88 victory at Minnesota on Jan. 22 and a 79-71 loss vs. Ohio State on Sunday. They have dropped five of their last six contests.
On the stat sheet, Whitney Bays leads the squad at 15.8 points per game and 10.9 rebounds per game. Bays is right behind Betnijah Laney in the Big Ten rebounding standings and is listed fourth in the league. Additionally, she is fifth in the conference in steals per game (2.5). Ashley Morissette is the only other Boilermaker in double figures at 11.7 points per game.
Head coach Sharon Versyp is in her ninth season at Purude. While at the helm of the prgram, she has led Purdue to four Big Ten tournament championships and two NCAA Touranment Elite Eight appearances.
TOP 25 OPPONENTS
Rutgers currently stands at 2-4 against the top 25 after picking up a 66-61 win over Minnesota on Sunday, a squad ranked at No. 21 in the Associated Press Poll.
RU had back-to-back games against the top 25 with a double overtime, 96-93, loss to No. 6 UNC on Dec. 4 in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge and a 64-52 victory at then-No. 25 Arkansas on Dec. 10.
Prior to the Dec. 10th win over the Razorbacks, the Scarlet Knights' last win over a nationally ranked opponent was a 61-58 victory over No. 16/15 Georgia on Dec. 21, 2013 at the RAC.
NO SOPHOMORE SLUMP
Tyler Scaife, last year's American Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year, is averaging a team-leading 16.5 points per game.
She is coming off a season-high 28 points against No. 21 Minnesota on Sunday, one point shy of her career-high. She had netted 29 points in RU's double overtime win over Seton Hall in the third round of last season's WNIT. It was also her sixth 20+ point game of the season and 13th of her career.
Scaife has reached double figure scoring in 44 of her 55 career appearances and has led RU in scoring in eight times in 2014-15.
Scaife is averaging 19.5 points per game against nationally ranked opponents this season, which also included 25 points in the Scarlet Knights' double overtime contest with No. 6 UNC on Dec. 4.
CANTY'S COMEBACK
Redshirt junior guard Briyona Canty made her first appearance in four games against Maryland on Jan. 15 after suffering a bone bruise in her right knee in RU's Dec. 28 game at Indiana.
Canty returned to the court against Maryland on the night of Jan. 15 and finished with eight points on 4-of-5 shooting and five rebounds from off the bench in 19 minutes of action. She followed up that performance with six points, five assists and two steals at Wisconsin on Jan. 18 and eight assists against No. 25 Minnesota on Sunday.
Since returning, Canty has averaged 6.7 points and 4.3 assists per game. In the last two games along - at Wisconsin and vs. No. 21 Minnesota - has averaged 6.5 assists per game. Her eight assists against the Golden Gophers on Sunday were the most assists by the redshirt junior since handing the ball out eight times at No. 25 Arkansas on Dec. 7.
BETNIJAH IS BETTER
Senior forward Betnijah Laney sat out the final nonconference contest at Iona on Dec. 20 after suffering a sprained thumb on her left hand in RU's contest with Tennessee on Dec. 14. Laney suffered a bad sprain on the first play of the game.
Entering the game with the Lady Vols, Laney had been averaging 16.0 points and 14.8 rebounds, however after suffering the thumb injury moments into the Tennessee game, Laney went on to end the contest with four points and five rebounds.
Since her return at Indiana on Dec. 28 to open up conference play, has posted double-doubles in four of her last eight games - Indiana, Ohio State, Michigan and Wisconsin - and narrowly missed out on the feat by one point against No. 20 Iowa on Jan. 4 and one rebound at Penn State on Jan 10.
In her eight games back, all in Big Ten play, the senior Scarlet Knight has averaged 16.1 points and 9.6 boards per game. She has scored 20 or more points in three of the eight games as well.
WELCOME BACK TO THE B1G TIME
Rutgers head coach C. Vivian Stringer is no stranger to the league. Stringer was at the helm of the Iowa Hawkeye program from 1983-95 and holds the second-most Big Ten victories in conference history with 174 wins in league play. She won 169 games while at Iowa and five at Rutgers. Penn State's Rene Portland holds the record with 176 wins from 1980-2007.
400-WIN CLUB
Head coach C. Vivian Stringer won her 400th career victory "On The Banks" at Houston on Feb. 11, 2014. Stringer needs 11 more wins to surpass Women's Basketball Hall of Famer Theresa Grentz as RU's all-time winningest women's basketball coach.
All-Time Rutgers WBB Coaching Records (By Wins)
Theresa Grentz - 434-150/ (1977-95) 19 seasons
C. Vivian Stringer - 423-210/(1995-present) 20 seasons
Ellen Johns - 6-5/(1974-75) One season
Dottie McCrea - 5-9/(1975-76) One season
GETTING TO THE POINTS
Rutgers is enjoying its highest scoring average under C. Vivian Stringer's 20-year tenure "On the Banks"
Top RU Scoring Averages Under C. Vivian Stringer
1. 71.9 (19 games) 2014-15 - 14-5 - Current Season
2. 70.0 (35 games) 1998-99 - 29-6 - Elite Eight
3. 68.7 (32 games) 1997-98 - 22-10 - Sweet 16
4. 67.3 (29 games) 2002-03 - 21-8 - 2nd Round
5. 66.2 (37 games) 2013-14 - WNIT CHAMPIONS
6. 65. 6 (31 games) 2000-01 - 23-8 - 2nd Round
Four or more Scarlet Knights have reached double figures in a game in nine of RU's 18 contests to date.
RU shot a season best 88.9 percent from the free throw line going 16-of-18 from the charity stripe in the Jan. 4 loss with No. 20 Iowa. Shrita Parker went a perfect 4-of-4 while Laney finished 5-of-6 and Copper went 6-of-7. Scaife also hit her lone attempt from the line.
The Scarlet Knights shot 82.4 percent (14-of-17) from the free throw line at Penn State on Jan. 10, the fourth time in 2014-15 RU has shot 80 percent or better from the charity stripe.
Hollivay is coming off her best shooting performance of the season going 5-of-6 from the field and adding in 11 points in RU's 73-63 win over Wisconsin on Jan. 18.
During this span, Hollivay also had a season-tying 14 points against No. 8 Maryland along with a season-high six bloc
BETTING DOUBLE
The senior forward had an incredible game against #6 UNC on Dec. 4 with a career-tying 24 points and career-high 24 rebounds.
1,000 POINT CLUB
Junior Kahleah Copper ended the Jan. 18 Wisconsin game with 14 points and became the 35th Scarlet Knight to reach 1,000 career points. She knocked down the first of two free throws at the 8:07 mark to accomplish the feat.
She is the second Scarlet Knight to reach the 1,000 career point mark this season. Teammate Betnijah Laney reached the mark in RU's game with UNC on Dec. 4.
FROM THE LINE
Rutgers shot 10-of-13 from the line (76.9 percent) vs. Minnesota, the 10th time the Scarlet Knights have shot 75 percent or better from the charity stripe and fifth time in the last six contests. In the last six games, RU has combined to go 79.6 percent from the line (78-of-98). Scaife, Canty and Rachel Hollivay each went a perfect 2-of-2 at the free throw line vs. the Golden Gophers.
RU shot a season best 88.9 percent from the free throw line going 16-of-18 from the charity stripe in the Jan. 4 loss with No. 20 Iowa. Shrita Parker went a perfect 4-of-4 while Laney finished 5-of-6 and Copper went 6-of-7. Scaife also hit her lone attempt from the line.
The Scarlet Knights shot 82.4 percent (14-of-17) from the free throw line at Penn State on Jan. 10, the fourth time in 2014-15 RU has shot 80 percent or better from the charity stripe.
DOWNTOWN
Cynthia Hernandez finished with a season-high 17 points at Wisconsin on Jan. 18, surpassing her previous high of nine captured against Davidson (Nov. 30) and Indiana (Dec. 28). She shot a blistering 5-of-5 from downtown.
Hernandez's five made three-pointers were the most by a Scarlet Knight since Erica Wheeler drained five three-pointers against Connecticut on March 7, 2011. Her five three's tied a Kohl Center record originally set by Lori Bjork of Illinois on Jan. 15, 2006.
As a team, the Scarlet Knights hit a season-high six three-point shots at Iona on Dec. 20, the most since hitting seven shots from downtown against Louisville on Jan. 18, 2013. RU went 6-of-11 from three-point range against the Gaels with Syessence Davis and Cynthia Hernandez both connecting on a pair from long range.
Hernandez followed up that performance going 3-of-4 from three-point range in RU's 66-51 win at Indiana on Dec. 28, which included her draining back-to-back-to-back shots from beyond the arc.
Briyona Canty had the most three-point field goals made by a Scarlet Knight last season, connecting on 13 from beyond the arc over the course of the Scarlet Knights' 37 games. This season, thru 19 games played in 2014-15, Hernandez has 18 made three pointers.
BENCH PRODUCTION
Since coming off the bench starting with RU's game against Michigan on Jan. 7, Rachel Hollivay has been averaging 8.2 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.0 blocks per game. She has scored in double figures in three of her five games during that span.
Hollivay is coming off her best shooting performance of the season going 5-of-6 from the field and adding in 11 points in RU's 73-63 win over Wisconsin on Jan. 18.
During this span, Hollivay also had a season-tying 14 points against No. 8 Maryland along with a season-high six bloc
BETTING DOUBLE
Senior forward Betnijah Laney has 12 double-double performances this season and tied for 10th nationally in the category.
She opened the season with eight consecutive double figure scoring and rebounding games. Her streak was halted at Temple on Dec. 10 with 20 points and five rebounds.
Laney's 2014-15 Double-Doubles
St. Joseph's - 10 pts, 13 reb
Northeastern - 14 pts, 13 reb
at LSU - 10 pts, 16 reb
at Wagner - 22 pts, 11 reb
Colgate - 17 pts, 18 reb
Davidson - 19 pts, 12 reb
#6 UNC - 24 pts, 24 reb
at #25 Arkansas - 12 pts, 11 reb
at Indiana - 20 pts, 12 reb
at Ohio State - 23 pts, 12 reb
Michigan - 20 pts, 10 reb
Laney has 26 double-doubles in her career.
The senior forward had an incredible game against #6 UNC on Dec. 4 with a career-tying 24 points and career-high 24 rebounds.
The Clayton, Delaware native captured 15 double-doubles last season, the most double figure scoring and rebounding games since Kia Vaughn, currently with the WNBA's Washington Mystics, had 12 double-doubles during the 2006-07 season.
THIEVING KNIGHTS
Syessence Davis had just one point off a free throw at Penn State on Jan. 10, but contributed a school record tying 10 steals along with eight assists and no turnovers. Davis' 10 steals ties the school record along with Denise Kenney, who also had 10 thefts against St. Joseph's on Feb. 16, 1978. Davis also surpassed her previous high of eight captured against Davidson on Nov. 30.
As a team, Rutgers recorded 22 steals against Penn State, one theft shy of the Rutgers single game record. The Scarlet Knights set the record with 23 steals against Temple on Jan. 17, 1987.
Davis is averaging 3.5 steals per game ranking her first in the Big Ten and sixth nationally. Last season, she averaged 2.9 steals, led the American and was ninth nationally in the category.
All-Time RU Steals
1. Tasha Pointer (1997-01) - *292
T-2. Sue Wicks (1984-88) - 287
T-2. Liz Hanson (1992-96) - 287
4. Matee Ajavon (2004-08) - 275
5. Denise Kenney (1976-79) - 263
6. Epiphanny Prince (2006-09) - 260
7. Vicky Picott (1987-91) - 257
8. Syessence Davis - 251
9. Regina Howard (1983-87) - 216
T-10. C'ta Mitchelson (1989-93) - 213
T-10. Cappie Pondexter (2002-06) - 213
NO MESSY ESSY
Syessence Davis leads the Big Ten and ranks 6th nationally in assist/turnover ratio. She has dished the ball out a total of 75 times with only 25 miscues through 17 games.
The senior guard handed out the ball eight times with no turnovers in RU's 71-51 victory at Penn State on Jan. 10
Davis has committed two turnovers or less in 15 of her 18 games this season.
All-Time RU Assists
1. Tasha Pointer (1997-01) - *839
2. Janet Malouf (1985-89) - 718
3. Mary Coyle (1978-82) - 640
4. Matee Ajavon (2004--08) - 556
5. Liz Hanson (1992-96) - 474
6. Cappie Pondexter (2002-06) - 470
7. Khadijah Rushdan (2007-12) - 464
8. Kristen Foley (1982-87) - 455
9. Patty Coyle (1978-82) - 394
10. Telicher Austin (1985-89) - 371
-- Syessence Davis - 351
ALL ABOARD
Betnijah Laney's 24 rebounds vs. #6 UNC on Dec. 4 set a Rutgers Athletic Center (RAC) record - men or women. She surpassed the previous record of 21 held by Women's Basketball Hall of Famer and former WNBA All-Star Sue Wicks set back in 1987 against Penn State.
She was two rebounds shy of tying the Rutgers women's basketball single game record. Sandy Tupurins grabbed 26 rebounds against William Paterson on Mar. 1, 1977.
Her 24 rebounds also placed her name among the top 15 all-time at RU in rebounding.
Laney's 24 boards against the Tar Heels is also among the best rebounding performances from around the country this season.
Top '14-15 Single Game WBB Rebounding Performances
Vicky McIntyre, Oral Roberts - vs. Austin Peay - 27
Joy Adams, Iona - vs. Monmouth - 26
Sherae Bonner, Western Carolina - vs. Livingstone - 26
Brittni Montgomery, UCF - vs. Iona - 24
Betnijah Laney, Rutgers - vs. North Carolina - 24
Temi Fagbenle, Harvard - vs. Temple - 24
Brittany Hodges, Furman - vs. Davidson - 24
Sarah Imovbioh, Virginia - vs. Ohio State - 24
Top RU Rebounding Performances (since 2005)
Betnijah Laney - 24 - North Carolina (12/4/14)
Kia Vaughn - 21 - at Cincinnati (1/22/08)
Monique Oliver - 19 - at Miami (12/5/11)
Betnijah Laney - 18 - Colgate (11/28/14)
Monique Oliver - 17 - Georgetown (12/9/10)
Kia Vaughn - 17 - Georgetown (2/7/09)
ALL-TIME RU REBOUNDS
1. Sue Wicks (1984-88) - *1357
2. Kia Vaughn (2005-09) - 1079
3. Regina Howard (1983-87) - 1036
4. Vicky Picott (1987-91) - 1029
5. Sandy Tupurins (1976-80) - 944
6. Tanya Hansen (1988-92) - 894
7. Kathy Glutz (1976-80) - 835
8. June Olkowski (1978-82) - 780
9. Betnijah Laney (2011-present) - 769
10. C'ta Mitchelson (1989-93) - 764
BLOCK PARTY
Rachel Hollivay captured a season-high six rejections in RU's game with No. 8 Maryland on Jan. 15. She also swatted away five Hawk shots in RU's season opener and then again in the Scarlet Knights' first road game at LSU.
Hollivay has registered 32 games with three or more blocks. She currently has 197 career blocks, moving into fifth all-time at RU on the New Year's Day contest with Ohio State.
Hollivay ended last year with 127 rejections and is third (men or women) in blocks in a single season. Only Hamady Ndiaye (2009-10) and Roy Hinson (1982-83) on the men's side have blocked more shots in a single season, swatting away 145 and 144, respectively.
All-Time RU Blocked Shots
1. Sue Wicks (1984-88) - 293
2. Kia Vaughn (2005-09) - 279
3. LaTonya Johnson (1988-92) - 248
4. Tanya Hansen (1988-92) - 245
5. Rachel Hollivay (2012-present) - 197
6. Monique Oliver (2009-13) - 177
7. Tammy Sutton-Brown (1997-01) - 148
8. Rashidat Junaid (2006-10) - 136
9. Regina Kalucki (1991-95) - 128
10. Chelsey Lee (2008-13) - 109
UP NEXT
The Rutgers women's basketball team closes out the season series with Penn State on Sunday, Feb. 1. Game time is set for noon.
The Rutgers women's basketball team closes out the season series with Penn State on Sunday, Feb. 1. Game time is set for noon.
Follow Rutgers women's basketball on Facebook (www.facebook.com/RutgersWBB ), Twitter (www.twitter.com/RutgersWBB ) and Instagram (www.instagram.com/RutgersWBB ) for all of the latest news and updates. Fans also receive timely information, including special offers and giveaways throughout the year on both social media outlets along with www.ScarletKnights.com.
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Players Mentioned
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