THINK PINK: WBB Hosts Purdue
Feb 13 | Women's Basketball
| Game Twenty-Five: #18/17 Rutgers vs. Purdue | |
| Date | Saturday, February 14, 2015 |
| Time | 12:00 ET |
| Location | Piscataway, N.J. | The RAC |
| Tickets | Click To Purchase |
| TV | BTN Ed Cohen and Vera Jones |
| Radio | Rutgers IMG Radio Network - WCTC (1450 AM) Danny Breslauer Rutgers Student Radio - WRSU (88.7 FM) Dylan Mruczinski and Gabe Sustick |
| Game Notes | Rutgers | Purdue |
| Statistics | Rutgers | Purdue |
| Social Media | @RutgersWBB  | Facebook/RutgersWBB  |
| Promotions | Play4Kay - Pink Out First 2500 Receive Pink T-Shirts Breast Cancer Survivors are invited to attend to join the celebration of progress in cancer research, treatments and survival. Natalie Hernadez Trading Card |
TIP OFF
? The 2014 WNIT Champions had a six-game win streak snapped in a late game with fifth-ranked Maryland on Tuesday night. The Scarlet Knights dropped only their second road game of the year in the 69-80 loss to the league leading Terps.
? A trio of Scarlet Knights reached double digits against the Terps on Tuesday led by 22 points from senior Betnijah Laney, her largest scoring output in Big Ten play to date. Laney had six rebounds to snap her double-double streak at four games.
? Also in double figures on Tuesday night against Maryland were junior Kahleah Copper with 19 points and sophomore Tyler Scaife with 10 points.
? RU's victory over Nebraska on Feb. 5 made head coach C. Vivian Stringer the all-time leader in B1G women's basketball victory. Stringer currently has 178 career Big Ten wins, which include 169 victories at Iowa from 1983-95 and nine at Rutgers.
? Saturday marks the annual Play4Kay contest. Pink T-Shirts will be given to the first 2500 fans in support of the fight against breast cancer. Breast cancer survivors are invited to attend this game to join the celebration of progress in cancer research, treatments and survival.
ABOUT PURDUE
The Boilermakers make their first trip to the RAC on Saturday with a 10-14 overall mark and 3-10 record in the Big Ten. Purdue has has lost five straight since it's 90-88 overtime win at Minnesota back on Jan. 22. Most recently, the Boilermakers fell 73-65 in overtime at home against Northwestern on Wednesday night.
On the stat sheet, Whitney Bays leads the team at 14.9 points and a team-leading 10.8 rebounds. Bays is fifth in the league in rebounding and collected 14 double-doubles this season. The other Boilermaker in double figures is Ashley Morrissette at 11.0 points per contest.
Head coach Sharon Versyp is in her ninth season at Purdue. While at the helm of the program, she has led Purdue to four Big Ten tournament championships and two NCAA Tournament Elite Eight appearances.
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 record for most Big Ten victories in conference history with 178 wins in league play. She won 169 games while at Iowa and nine at Rutgers.
ALL-TIME B1G WBB WINS
C. Vivian Stringer, IOWA (1983-95), RU (1995-present) - 178
Rene Portland, PSU (1980-07)- 176
Karen Langeland, MSU (1976-00) - 156
Lisa Bluder, IOWA (2000-Present) - 149
Jim Foster, OSU (2002-12) - 136
Don Perrelli, NU (1984-99) - 135
Nancy Darsch, OSU (1985-97) - 134
Lin Dunn, PUR (1987-96) - 120
Pam Borton, MINN (2002-14) - 104
Theresa Grentz, ILL (1995-07) - 101
Sharon Versyp, IND/PUR (2005-Present) - 100
ALL-TIME RUTGERS WINNER
Head coach C. Vivian Stringer won her 400th career victory "On The Banks" at Houston on Feb. 11, 2014. Stringer needs eight 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 - 427-212/(1995-present) 20 seasons
Ellen Johns - 6-5/(1974-75) One season
Dottie McCrea - 5-9/(1975-76) One season
NIKE HONORS STRINGER FOR BLACK HISTORY MONTH
Rutgers women's basketball head coach C. Vivian Stringer was among six coaches and athletes who served as inspiration behind Nike's Black History Month Collection for positively impacting sport with their courage and determination.
Along with Stringer, Georgetown men's basketball coach John Thompson, NFL wide receiver Jerry Rice, track and field athlete Brianna Rollins, Ghana national soccer team member Kevin-Prince Boateng and California skateboarder Theotis Beasley were honored.
A portion of proceeds from the sale of the 2015 BHM Collection go to the Ever Higher Fund, which supports organizations that leverage the power of sport to maximize the potential of underserved youth. The fund's mission is to assist communities with knowledge, resources and tools for the next generation of leaders.
WATCH LIST
Sophomore guard Tyler Scaife has been added to the Dawn Staley and Naismith Mid-Season Watch Lists. The Dawn Staley award is given to the most outstanding collegiate guard in the country and the Naismith Trophy is given annually by the Atlanta Tip-Off Club to the top collegiate player.
Senior Syessence Davis is among the 30 candidates for the Nancy Lieberman Awards, recognizing the top point guard in the country.
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. 70.0 (35 games) 1998-99 - 29-6 - Elite Eight
2. 69.7 (24 games) 2014-15 - 18-6 - Current Season
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 24 contests to date.
TOP 25 OPPONENTS
Rutgers currently stands at 3-5 against the top 25 after Tuesday's setback to the Terps in College Park.
At home more recently, the Scarlet Knights picked up a 46-43 victory over No. 19/18 Nebraska on Feb. 5 in their last home appearance and a 66-61 win over Minnesota on Jan 25, 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.
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, Laney has posted double-doubles in the last four straight, eight of her last 12 games and in five of her last six contests. She 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 13 games back, all in Big Ten play, the senior Scarlet Knight has averaged 16.8 points and 10.4 boards per game. She has scored 20 or more points in four of the 13 games as well.
BETTING DOUBLE
Senior forward Betnijah Laney has 16 double-double performances this season and is tied for seventh nationally in the category.
Laney's current streak of four straight double-doubles was recently snapped in Tuesday night's loss at No. 5 Maryland.
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
Wisconsin - 12 pts, 11 reb
at Purdue - 18 pts, 14 reb
Penn State - 16 pts, 14 reb
#18/19 Nebraska - 16 pts, 11 reb
at Michigan - 17 pts, 10 reb
Laney has 31 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.
FREE POINTS
Rutgers shot a perfect 13-of-13 from the free throw line on Feb. 10 at No. 5 Maryland. It was RU's best performance from the charity stripe since sinking 10-of-10 at Syracuse on Jan. 6, 2009. Betnijah Laney led the way going 4-of-4 from the line.
SHINING COPPER
When the Scarlet Knights get down, its been Kahleah Copper to the rescue against Purdue and Penn State.
On Jan. 29 in the 76-65 win at Purdue, Copper poured in a game-high 21 points on 8-of-17 shooting (47.1 percent) from the field. After the Boilermakers tied the game at 30-28 with 16:58 to go, Copper rattled off eight straight points to return the lead to Rutgers for good.
On Feb. 1 vs. Penn State, Copper reset her season-high with 25 points, shooting 10-of-19 from the floor (52.6 percent). She scored 17 of her 25 points in the second half. Penn State would tie the contest 48-48 with 8:41 to play, however, Copper added on a free throw to give Rutgers the lead the rest of the way and would score 10 of her game-high 25 points during this final span.
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 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)
Top `14-15 Single Game WBB Rebounding Performances
Mimi Mungedi, Nevada - vs. San Jose St. - 29
Vicky McIntyre, Oral Roberts - vs. Austin Peay - 27
Joy Adams, Iona - vs. Monmouth - 26
Sherae Bonner, Western Carolina - vs. Livingstone - 26
Jillian Alleyne, Oregon - vs. UCLA - 25
Kayla Roberts, Norfolk State - vs. Hampton - 25
Brittni Montgomery, UCF - vs. Iona - 24
Betnijah Laney, Rutgers - vs. North Carolina - 24
Joy Adams, Iona - vs. Monmouth - 24
Temi Fagbenle, Harvard - vs. Temple - 24
Brittany Hodges, Furman - vs. Davidson - 24
Sarah Imovbioh, Virginia - vs. Ohio State - 24
Ruvanna Campbell, Chicago - vs. Oakland - 24
Vicky McIntyre, Oral Roberts - vs. Omhama - 24
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. Betnijah Laney (2011-present) - 833
9. June Olkowski (1978-82) - 780
10. C'ta Mitchelson (1989-93) - 764
CLEANING THE GLASS
Rutgers has won the battle of the boards in 18 of its 24 games to date.
Betnijah Laney, who led RU in rebounding at 8.5 boards per game last season, has not missed a beat and is hauling in 11.4 rebounds per game in 2014-15. She is eighth nationally in defensive rebounds (8.0) and 11th in the country and third in the Big Ten in total rebounds per game (11.4).
Laney had 17 double digit rebounding efforts last season and has posted double figure rebounds in 18 of her 23 appearances this season.
THEIVING KNIGHTS
Syessence Davis had just one point off a free throw in the first meeting with 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 3.2 steals per game ranking her first in the Big Ten and 11th 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. Syessence Davis - 266
6. Denise Kenney (1976-79) - 263
7. Epiphanny Prince (2006-09) - 260
8. Vicky Picott (1987-91) - 257
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 fifth nationally in assist/turnover ratio. She has dished the ball out a total of 97 times with only 32 miscues through 24 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 19 of her 24 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 - 370
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 8-4 at home and went 15-3 in 2013-14. Since the 2002-03 season, the Scarlet Knights have gone 156-24 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 four losses this season have come at the hand of top 25 squads.
RU had a streak for three straight home losses - all against nationally ranked foes - but a 81-68 win over Michigan on Jan. 7 snapped the three-game slide at home. RU has not suffered more than three-straight losses at home since the 2001-02 season.
UP NEXT
The Rutgers women's basketball team hosts Illinois on Tuesday, Feb. 17 at 7 p.m.
