PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Behind a 7-of-11 performance from the three-point range, the Rutgers women's basketball team dominated Iona in a 53-88 victory on Wednesday night at the RAC.
RU improved to an overall mark of 7-3, having won six of its last seven contests. Iona meanwhile fell to a mark of 3-6.
Five different Scarlet Knights connected from beyond the arc, as junior guard Tyler Scaife (Little Rock, Ark.) led the way with a 3-of-3 showing from downtown and ended the evening with a game-high 20 points. Seniors Kahleah Copper (Philadelphia, Pa.) and Briyona Canty (Willingboro, N.J.) followed with nine points each. Classmate Rachel Hollivay (Columbus, Miss.) registered a season-high six blocks, along with six points and six rebounds for RU.
Iona's Aaliyah Robinson was the lone Gael to score double figures, notching 15 points highlighted by a 4-of-7 shooting percentage from the three-point range.
Rutgers took control of the contest from the onset, gliding to a 23-5 lead to start the contest. Scaife led the way with seven points across the span, including back-to-back three-pointers, as RU held Iona at five points across nearly seven minutes of play. Iona ended the RU run, adding a layup with 1:32 to go in the first. However, it was not enough to stump Rutgers as the Scarlet Knights went on to outscore the Gaels, 6-3, thanks to three-pointers from Copper and Scaife to close the first quarter with a 29-10 advantage.
RU finished the first quarter going 5-of-5 from the three-point line, while holding Iona to a 30.8 shooting percentage from the field.
Canty kept the Scarlet Knights hot from beyond the arc, kicking off the second quarter with a three of her own, bringing the score to 32-12 and keeping RU's mark flawless from three-point range at 6-of-6.
Iona responded with a 10-0 run, bringing the margin to 32-22 with 5:55 to go in the half. However, Hollivay ended the nearly seven minute drought for RU, draining a layup to maintain the Scarlet Knights' 10-point cushion with under five minutes until the break.
Rutgers finished the half with a 5-2 run, establishing a 37-24 lead to carry into the locker room.
The Scarlet Knights maintained their momentum in to the second half, notching 10 unanswered points to extend their edge to 47-24 with under three minutes left in the third quarter.
RU went on to hold the Gaels to just four points in the game's final quarter, as they pulled away with a 58-33 victory.
Rutgers women's basketball continues its five-game homestand, hosting Savannah State on Sunday, Dec. 13. Tip off is set for 4 p.m. on BTN Plus.
KNIGHT NOTES
- Alana Ferruggiaro has been added to the roster as a walk-on. Ferruggiaro, a senior from Maplewood, N.J. and Columbia High School, has served as a Scarlet Knight manager the last two seasons. She will wear No. 10 this season.
- The 25-point victory is RU's largest margin of victory this season. The previous high was 24 in a 75-51 win over Tulane at the Paradise Jam.
- In the last two games, Rutgers opponents have averaged 36.5 points per game.
- The 29 first quarter points are the most by the Scarlet Knights this season, surpassing the previous high of 25 netted against St. Joseph's in the season opener on Nov. 13.
- Rutgers has connected on five or more three-pointers in four of the season's first 10 games. Last year, the Scarlet Knights had five total games on their 33 game slate with five or more made three-point field goals.
- Tyler Scaife had a team-high 20 points with 16 points coming in first half action. It was her second straight game and fourth game this season with 20+ points. Additionally, she has poured in 20 or more points 21 times in her career.
- With her six rejections, Rachel Hollivay moved up two spots on the all-time blocks leaders list past Tanya Hansen (1988-92) and LaTonya Johnson (1988-92) into third place. She currently has 250 career blocks and needs 30 more to take over second place, surpassing Kia Vaughn (2005-09).
- Rutgers finished 5-of-6 from the line including a 4-of-4 performance by Rachel Hollivay.
- Ashli Jeune scored her first career points. She went 2-of-2 from the floor and finished with five points.
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