WBB Hosts Michigan on Wednesday
Jan 06 | Women's Basketball
Jan. 6, 2015 
TIP OFF
Goree is fifth in the Big Ten in rebounding and leads the conference in offensive boards at 4.0 per game. Additionally she is fourth in the nation with double-doubles with nine under her belt this season.
Michigan is led by Kim Barnes Arrico, who is in her third season with the Wolverines. She may be a familiar face as she coached former Big East rival St. John's between 2002 and 2012.
Last season, the Wolverines had potential to meet the Scarlet Knights in the WNIT. Michigan reached the third round falling to Bowling Green, 63-53. RU defeated the Falcons in the quarterfinals, 55-50, en route to capturing the 2014 title.
Since her return last Sunday at Indiana, Laney is back to form posting back-to-back double-doubles in games with Indiana and Ohio State and narrowly capturing her 11th double-double of the year on Sunday against No. 20 Iowa.
Laney captured a game-high 20 points along with 10 rebounds against the Hooiser and had 23 points and 12 rebounds on Thursday at Ohio State. On Sunday versus the Hawkeyes, she hauled in 13 rebounds and notched nine points.
CANTY AWAITING COMEBACK
PROTECTING HOME COURT
All three losses this season have come at the hand of top 25 squads.
All-Time Rutgers WBB Coaching Records (By Wins)
GETTING TO THE POINTS
Top RU Scoring Averages Under C. Vivian Stringer
FROM THE LINE
Laney has 25 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.
ALL ABOARD
Laney had 17 double digit rebounding efforts last season and has posted double figure rebounds in 11 of her 13 appearances this season.
RU also had a pair of Scarlet Knights reach the 20-point mark as Betnijah Laney and Copper both netted 20 points each in the 88-55 win at Temple on Dec. 10. In the Dec. 4 match-up with No. 6 UNC,, Laney scored a career-tying 24 points and Scaife captured a season-high 25 points. Additionally in the 81-53 win at Wagner on Nov. 25. Laney had 22 points, while Copper contributed 20 points in the victory.
A FIRST HALF FACT
Steals
NO MESSY ESSY
Only No. 6 UNC and Ohio State have outscored the Scarlet Knights in the paint as the Tar Heels had a 44-32 advantage on Dec. 4 and the Buckeyes outscored RU 40-18 inside on Jan. 1.
PAINT POINTS
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 Fifteen: #24/23 Rutgers vs. Michigan | |
| Date | Wednesday, January 7, 2015 |
| Time | 7:00 p.m. ET |
| Location | Piscataway, N.J. | The RAC |
| Tickets | Click To Purchase |
| Video | BTN Plus Lou Brogno and Julianne Viani |
| Radio | Rutgers IMG Radio Network - WCTC (1450 AM) Danny Breslauer and Mark Peterson Rutgers Student Radio - WRSU (88.7 FM) Matt Salvatore and Stephen Roca |
| Game Notes | Rutgers | Michigan |
| Statistics | Rutgers | Michigan |
| Social Media | @RutgersWBB  | Facebook/RutgersWBB  |
| Promotions | Buy One, Get One Free Pretzels Rachel Hollivay Trading Card |
TIP OFF
• The 2014 WNIT Champions look to return to the win column after back-to-back losses to start the New Year. RU is coming off a 79-72 loss to then-No. 20 Iowa on Sunday, in its first home Big Ten contest.
• Fans can enjoy buy one, get one free pretzels at the concession stand.
• The Scarlet Knights closed out Sunday's game with two in double figures led by a season-high 22 points by junior Kahleah Copper. Tyler Scaife added in 20 points in the loss.
• Senior Betnijah Laney narrowly missed out on her 11th double-double of the year with nine points and 13 rebounds. She currently ranks fourth nationally in double-doubles and fifth nationally in rebounds per game.
• The Scarlet Knights are 4-3 at the RAC this season and are looking for its first win since a 100-44 victory over Davidson on Nov. 30. Rutgers has lost three straight at home, but all three setbacks were at the hands of teams ranked among the nation's top 25 - UNC, Tennessee & Iowa.
ABOUT MICHIGAN
The Wolverines come to the RAC with an identical 10-4 overall mark and are 2-1 in Big Ten action. Michigan opened up conference play with a 63-52 setback at Wisconsin but rebounded with two home wins against Penn State (89-53) and Michigan State (74-65).
Katelynn Flaherty leads the Wolverines at 14.8 points per game and is followed by Cyesha Goree at 13.6 points per contest along with a team-leading 10.4 rebounds per contest. Shannon Smith is pouring in 12.2 points per game and 4.6 rebounds per outting and Siera Thompson rounds out the double figure Wolverine scorers at 10.9 points per game.
Goree is fifth in the Big Ten in rebounding and leads the conference in offensive boards at 4.0 per game. Additionally she is fourth in the nation with double-doubles with nine under her belt this season.
Michigan is led by Kim Barnes Arrico, who is in her third season with the Wolverines. She may be a familiar face as she coached former Big East rival St. John's between 2002 and 2012.
Last season, the Wolverines had potential to meet the Scarlet Knights in the WNIT. Michigan reached the third round falling to Bowling Green, 63-53. RU defeated the Falcons in the quarterfinals, 55-50, en route to capturing the 2014 title.
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 Tennessee game, Laney went on to end the contest with four points and five rebounds.
Since her return last Sunday at Indiana, Laney is back to form posting back-to-back double-doubles in games with Indiana and Ohio State and narrowly capturing her 11th double-double of the year on Sunday against No. 20 Iowa.
Laney captured a game-high 20 points along with 10 rebounds against the Hooiser and had 23 points and 12 rebounds on Thursday at Ohio State. On Sunday versus the Hawkeyes, she hauled in 13 rebounds and notched nine points.
CANTY AWAITING COMEBACK
Redshirt junior guard Briyona Canty played only five minutes in the Dec. 28 game with Indiana after suffering a knee injury. Canty has been diagnosed with a bone bruise in her right knee and is listed as week-to-week. It is not the same knee that caused Canty to play only seven games in 2012-13 due to a microfracture.
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 170 wins in league play. She won 169 games while at Iowa and one at Rutgers.
Penn State's Rene Portland holds the record with 176 wins from 1980-2007.
PROTECTING HOME COURT
The Scarlet Knights have had an outstanding track record of success at home during the previous 12 seasons under head coach C. Vivian Stringer. RU is currently 4-3 at home and went 15-3 in 2013-14. Since the 2002-03 season, the Scarlet Knights have gone 154-24 at the RAC.
The squad's 15 home wins in 2013-14 season tied for the most wins at the RAC under the 20-year tenure of C. Vivian Stringer. The Scarlet Knights also went 15-3 at home in the 1998-99 season.
All three losses this season have come at the hand of top 25 squads.
400-WIN CLUB
Head coach C. Vivian Stringer won her 400th career victory "On The Banks" at Houston on Feb. 11, 2014. Stringer needs 15 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 - 419-209/(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. 72.6 (14 games) 2014-15 - 10-4 - 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 eight of RU's 14 contests to date.
FROM THE LINE
RU shot a season best 88.9 percent from the free throw line going 16-of-18 from the charity stripe in Sunday's 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.
TOP 25 OPPONENTS
Rutgers currently stands a 1-3 against the top 25.
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.
BETTING DOUBLE
Senior forward Betnijah Laney has ten double-double performances this season and tied for fourth nationally in the category.
She had back-to-back double-doubles following her absence from the nonconference finale on Dec. 20 at Iona with a thumb sprain and nearly capture her 11th double-double with nine points and 13 rebound vs. #20 Iowa on Sunday. She has averaged 17.3 points and 12.3 rebounds in returning to the court in games with Indiana, Ohio State and No. 20 Iowa to kick off Big Ten play.
Laney 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
Laney has 25 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.
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. C'ta Mitchelson (1989-93) - 764
10. Linda Miles (1997-01) - 751
11. LaTonya Johnson (1988-92) - 745
12. Betnijah Laney (2011-present) - 733
13. Essence Carson (2004-08) - 707
14. Janell Williams (1991-95) - 700
15. Tammy Sutton-Brown (1997-01) - 685
ALSO ON BOARD
Ariel Butts collected a career-high 10 rebounds in RU's loss to #20 Iowa on Jan. 4. Her previous high this season was seven, last captured against No. 6 North Carolina while she surpassed her previous career mark of eight against Temple on Feb. 26, 2014.
CLEANING THE GLASS
Rutgers has won the battle of the boards in 12 of its 14 games to date. Only Tennessee has outrebounded the Scarlet Knights this season as the Lady Vols held a 54-42 edge on the glass.
Betnijah Laney, who led RU in rebounding at 8.5 boards per game last season, has not missed a beat and is hauling in 12.5 rebounds per game in 2014-15. She is fourth nationally in defensive rebounds (9.0) and fifth in the country and tops in the Big Ten in total rebounds per game (12.5).
Laney had 17 double digit rebounding efforts last season and has posted double figure rebounds in 11 of her 13 appearances this season.
NO SOPHOMORE SLUMP
Tyler Scaife, last year's American Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year, has led the Scarlet Knights in scoring in six of the season's first 14 games and is averaging a team-leading 16.6 points per game.
Scaife has reached double figure scoring in 40 of her 51 career appearances. She netted 20 points in RU's loss to No. 20 Iowa, marking her fifth 20+ point game of the 2014-15 season and 12th of her career. She is averaging 20.0 points per game against nationally ranked opponents this season, which includes a season-high 25 points in the Scarlet Knights' double overtime contest with No. 6 UNC on Dec. 4.
20/20 VISION
Four times this season, a pair of Scarlet Knights have dropped in 20 or more points in a game.
Most recently, Kahleah Copper posted 22 points and Tyler Scaife added in 20 in RU's setback to No. 20 Iowa on Jan. 4
RU also had a pair of Scarlet Knights reach the 20-point mark as Betnijah Laney and Copper both netted 20 points each in the 88-55 win at Temple on Dec. 10. In the Dec. 4 match-up with No. 6 UNC,, Laney scored a career-tying 24 points and Scaife captured a season-high 25 points. Additionally in the 81-53 win at Wagner on Nov. 25. Laney had 22 points, while Copper contributed 20 points in the victory.
WNIT MVP Kahleah Copper reached the 20+ point milestone 11 times last season, the most since Brittany Ray did so seven times in 2009-10.
This season, both Tyler Scaife lead the Scarlet Knights with the most 20+ point games with five, followed by Betnijah Laney with four.
A FIRST HALF FACT
The Scarlet Knights have led at the half in 12 of its 14 contests to date.
Ohio State and Iowa have both managed to head into the intermission outscoring the Scarlet Knights. RU trailed 40-27 at the half in its meeting with the Buckeyes on Jan. 1 and were behind 34-30 against the Hawkeyes on Jan. 4.
D-D-D-FENSE
Point guard Syessence Davis is averaging 3.2 steals per game ranking her second in the Big Ten and 12th nationally. Last season, she averaged 2.9 steals, led the American and was ninth nationally in the category.
During Rutgers most recent road trips - Iona, Indiana and Ohio State - Davis averaged 5.3 steals per game including back-to-back games in Bloomington and Columbus with six thefts.
She recorded eight steals in the 100-44 win over Davidson on Nov. 30, tying for the most steals by a Scarlet Knight since 2005. Former teammate Erica Wheeler also had eight thefts at DePaul on Feb. 12, 2013.
On Dec. 20, at Iona, Davis moved into the eighth position on RU's all-time steals list.
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 234
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 24th nationally in assist/turnover ratio. She has dished the ball out a total of 51 times with only 20 miscues through 14 games.
The senior guard dished out the ball nine times at Iona on Dec. 20 and committed only two turnovers. She also handed the ball out nine times against #6 UNC on Dec. 4, while committing just one turnover.
Davis has committed two turnovers or less in 12 of her 14 games this season.
BLOCK PARTY
Rachel Hollivay 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 29 games with three or more blocks, including rejecting four Ohio State attempts on Jan. 1. She currently has 182 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.
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) 182
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
LIVING IN THE PAINT
Rutgers continues to dominate the paint just like they did last season.
RU is averaging 33.1 points in the paint through its first 14 games of 2014-15, which included a season-high 50 in the Nov. 25 win at Wagner. It was the Scarlet Knights highest total inside since netting 52 paint points in last year's win over the Seahawks on Dec. 13, 2013, as well as against UCF on Feb. 15, 2014.
Only No. 6 UNC and Ohio State have outscored the Scarlet Knights in the paint as the Tar Heels had a 44-32 advantage on Dec. 4 and the Buckeyes outscored RU 40-18 inside on Jan. 1.
PAINT POINTS
St. Joseph's 34
Northeastern 36
at LSU 38
at Wagner 50
Colgate 34
Davidson 46
UNC 32
at Arkansas 30
at Temple 36
Tennessee 22
at Iona 28
at Indiana 32
at Ohio State 18
Iowa 28
TURNOVERS
Scarlet Knight opponents are averaging 19.6 miscues per game. Only Arkansas on Dec. 7, has managed to record single digit turnovers.
OPPONENT TURNOVERS
St. Joseph's 21
Northeastern 22
at LSU 21
at Wagner 25
Colgate 18
Davidson 29
UNC 21
at Arkansas 9
at Temple 21
Tennessee 13
at Iona 21
at Indiana 21
at Ohio State 15
Iowa 17
UP NEXT
The Rutgers women's basketball team makes it way to "Happy Valley" to meet up with Penn State on Saturday, Jan. 10 at noon. The game will air on BTN with Frank Hanrahan and Vera Jones on the call.
The Rutgers women's basketball team makes it way to "Happy Valley" to meet up with Penn State on Saturday, Jan. 10 at noon. The game will air on BTN with Frank Hanrahan and Vera Jones on the call.
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.
-RU-
Players Mentioned
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