No. 21/22 WBB Travels to Michigan
Feb 07 | Women's Basketball
Feb. 7, 2015
TIP OFF
• The victory over the Cornhuskers gave head coach C. Vivian Stringer 177 career Big Ten wins, which include 169 victories at Iowa from 1983-95, to become the Big Ten's leader in conference victories.
• The Scarlet Knights were led by senior Betnijah Laney with her 15th double-double, tying her double-double mark from last season. She had 16 points and 14 rebounds. She has posted both double digit points and rebounds in four of the last five games.
• Sophomore Tyler Scaife was the other Scarlet Knight in double figures finish the evening with 12 points on 6-of-15 shooting.
• The victory over Nebraska improved the Scarlet Knights to 3-4 against the Top 25 which includes wins over then-No. 25 Arkansas and then-No. 21 Minnesota.
• Rutgers will travel to Maryland immediately following Sunday afternoon's contest with the Wolverines.
ABOUT MICHIGAN
Cyesha Goree, who poured in game-high 23 points on 11-of-17 shooting in the first meeting, continues to lead the Wolverines at 15.1 points per game, along with 10.3 rebounds per contest.
Three other Wolverines are averaging double figures including Katelynn Flaherty (14.7 ppg), Shannon Smith (14.0 ppg) and Siera Thompson (11.5 ppg). Flaherty was held to just four points in the first meeting with RU, her lowest scoring output in Big Ten play 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
WELCOME BACK TO THE B1G TIME
ALL-TIME B1G WBB WINS
Top RU Scoring Averages Under C. Vivian Stringer
TOP 25 OPPONENTS
SHINING COPPER
Scaife has reached double figure scoring in 46 of her 58 career appearances and has led RU in scoring eight times in 2014-15.
Scaife is averaging 18.4 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.
EMERGING EVANS
Senior center Christa Evans has gotten the starting nod in the last three contests and has averaged 19.3 minutes per game in the last four outings.
Laney's 2014-15 Double-Doubles
The senior forward had an incredible game against #6 UNC on Dec. 4 with a career-tying 24 points and career-high 24 rebounds.
ALL ABOARD
Top RU Rebounding Performances (since 2005)
NO MESSY ESSY
The senior guard handed out the ball eight times with no turnovers in RU's 71-51 victory at Penn State on Jan. 10
| Game Twenty-Three: #21/22 Rutgers at Michigan | |
| Date | Sunday, February 8, 2015 |
| Time | 2:00 ET |
| Location | Ann Arbor, Mich. | Crisler Center |
| Tickets | Click To Purchase |
| Video | BTN Plus |
| Radio | Rutgers Student Radio - WRSU (88.7 FM) Vinny Caggiano and Danny Friedman |
| Game Notes | Rutgers | Michigan |
| Statistics | Rutgers | Michigan |
| Social Media | @RutgersWBB  | Facebook/RutgersWBB  |
| Promotions | Dollar Hot Dog Night Natalie Parsons Trading Card |
TIP OFF
• The 2014 WNIT Champions have won five in-a-row for its longest win streak since opening the season six consectuive victories following its 46-43 win over No. 19/18 Nebraska.
• The victory over the Cornhuskers gave head coach C. Vivian Stringer 177 career Big Ten wins, which include 169 victories at Iowa from 1983-95, to become the Big Ten's leader in conference victories.
• The Scarlet Knights were led by senior Betnijah Laney with her 15th double-double, tying her double-double mark from last season. She had 16 points and 14 rebounds. She has posted both double digit points and rebounds in four of the last five games.
• Sophomore Tyler Scaife was the other Scarlet Knight in double figures finish the evening with 12 points on 6-of-15 shooting.
• The victory over Nebraska improved the Scarlet Knights to 3-4 against the Top 25 which includes wins over then-No. 25 Arkansas and then-No. 21 Minnesota.
• Rutgers will travel to Maryland immediately following Sunday afternoon's contest with the Wolverines.
ABOUT MICHIGAN
The Wolverines and Scarlet Knights close out the season series on Sunday afternoon. RU won the first meeting 81-68 giving the the Scarlet Knights its first ever home B1G victory back on Jan. 7.
Michigan enters Sunday's contest at 14-8 overall and 6-5 in league play. Since their setback to the Scarlet Knights, the Wolverines have gone 4-3, which includes a 72-59 win at Michigan State on Thursday to sweep the season series with the Spartans.
Cyesha Goree, who poured in game-high 23 points on 11-of-17 shooting in the first meeting, continues to lead the Wolverines at 15.1 points per game, along with 10.3 rebounds per contest.
Three other Wolverines are averaging double figures including Katelynn Flaherty (14.7 ppg), Shannon Smith (14.0 ppg) and Siera Thompson (11.5 ppg). Flaherty was held to just four points in the first meeting with RU, her lowest scoring output in Big Ten play 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.
LAST TIME VS. MICHIGAN
The No. 24 Rutgers women's basketball team returned to the win column with an 81-68 win over Michigan on Wednesday night at the RAC to snap a two-game skid and improve to an overall record of 11-4 and 2-2 in Big Ten action.
The No. 24 Rutgers women's basketball team returned to the win column with an 81-68 win over Michigan on Wednesday night at the RAC to snap a two-game skid and improve to an overall record of 11-4 and 2-2 in Big Ten action.
Betnijah Laney recorded her 11th double-double of the season with 20 points and 10 rebounds. Tyler Scaife poured in 20 points of her own for her sixth game of the year with 20+ scoring. Rachel Hollivay joined the double-figure scorers with 10 points in the win.
Michigan, who fell to 10-5 and 2-2 in the Big Ten, was led by Cyesha Goree with a game-high 23 points, while Siera Thompson and Shannon Smith each put up 16 points apiece in the loss.
The Scarlet Knights rolled to a 25-8 lead only eight minutes into the contest and carried a 42-25 advantage into the locker room. RU opened play going 16-of-24 from the field and finished out the half shooting a blistering 57.6 percent (19-of-33).
What was once a 19-point advantage for RU in the second half became a tied ball game at the midway point. The Wolverines found a spark after the break, outscoring the Scarlet Knights 19-3 during the first six minutes of the half and trailed only 47-44 with 14:36 to go in the game.
Rutgers clung onto a three-point lead until Michigan's Thompson recorded her fourth three-pointer of the night to tie the score at 51-51 with 10:45 left. While the Wolverine's erased RU's 19-point edge, the Scarlet Knights never handed over the lead. RU found a 7-0 run to pull ahead for good. Michigan pulled as close as four points over the next few minutes of play, but would never draw closer. Another burst of nine uncontested points put RU up 75-62 at the 3:08 mark, regaining a double-digit edge the rest of the way.
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 177 wins in league play. She won 169 games while at Iowa and eight at Rutgers.
ALL-TIME B1G WBB WINS
C. Vivian Stringer, IOWA (1983-95), RU (1995-present) - 177
Rene Portland, PSU (1980-07) - 176
Karen Langeland, MSU (1976-00) - 156
Lisa Bluder, IOWA (2000-Present) - 147
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 B1G WBB WIN PERCENTAGE
Coach - Years - Record - PCT
Tara Van Derveer, OSU - 4 - 53-4 - .929
Carolyn Peck, PUR - 2 - 26-5 - .855
Brenda Frese, MINN, MD - 2 - 22-5 - .815
C. Vivian Stringer, IOWA, RU - 13 - 177-48 - .787
Kristy Curry, PUR - 7 - 86-26 - .768
Lin Dunn, PUR - 9 - 120-38 - .759
Nell Fortner, PUR - 1 - 12-4 - .750
Jim Foster, OSU - 11 - 136-46 - .747
Rene Portland, PSU - 15 - 175-69 - .717
Connie Yori, NEB - 4 - 41-17 - .707
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 nine 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 - 426-211/(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. 70.3 (22 games) 2014-15 - 17-5 - 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 20 contests to date.
TOP 25 OPPONENTS
Rutgers currently stands at 3-4 against the top 25 after picking up a 46-43 victory over No. 19/18 Nebraska on Thursday night 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.
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.
SHINING COPPER
When the Scarlet Knights get down, its been Kahleah Copper to the rescue against Purdue and Penn State.
Last Thursday night 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 Sunday 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.
NO SOPHOMORE SLUMP
Tyler Scaife, last year's American Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year, is averaging a team-leading 16.0 points per game.
On Jan. 25 against No. 21 Minnesota, Scaife was one-point shy of her career-high by pouring in a season-high 28 points against the Golden Gophers. 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 46 of her 58 career appearances and has led RU in scoring eight times in 2014-15.
Scaife is averaging 18.4 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.
EMERGING EVANS
Senior center Christa Evans has gotten the starting nod in the last three contests and has averaged 19.3 minutes per game in the last four outings.
Evans grabbed a season-high five rebounds in RU's 76-65 victory over Penn State last Sunday. Her previous high was four against Wagner back on Nov. 25.
She also played a season-high 23 minutes in the Scarlet Knights' 66-61 win over then-No. 21 Minnesota on Jan. 25.
BETTING DOUBLE
Senior forward Betnijah Laney has 15 double-double performances this season and is tied for seventh nationally in the category. Laney has posted double-doubles in three of the last four games.
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 Jan 4.
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
#19/18 Nebraska - 16 pts, 11 reb
Penn State - 16 pts, 14 reb
#19/18 Nebraska - 16 pts, 11 reb
Laney has 30 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
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
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
8. Betnijah Laney (2011-present) - 817
8. Kathy Glutz (1976-80) - 835
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 16 of its 22 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 11.8 rebounds per game in 2014-15. She is eighth nationally in defensive rebounds (8.0) and eighth in the country and second in the Big Ten in total rebounds per game (11.7).
Laney had 17 double digit rebounding efforts last season and has posted double figure rebounds in 16 of her 21 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 3.4 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
5t. Denise Kenney (1976-79) - 263
5t. Epiphanny Prince (2006-09) - 263
7. Syessence Davis - 258
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
TURNOVERS
Scarlet Knight opponents are averaging 19.8 miscues per game, which included 38 turnovers by Penn State on Jan. 10.
PSU's mishandling of the ball 38 times in the first meeting marked the most turnovers by an opponent since Farmingdale State registered 32 miscues on Feb. 11, 2009. It was the third time since 2002-03 that an opponent has had 30 or more turnovers in a game. The Lady Lions' 38 turnovers resulted in season-high 36 points for the Scarlet Knights.
Only Arkansas on Dec. 7, has managed to record single digit turnovers.
CLEANING THE GLASS
Rutgers has won the battle of the boards in 15 of its 21 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 11.7 rebounds per game in 2014-15. She is ninth nationally in defensive rebounds (8.0) and eighth in the country and second in the Big Ten in total rebounds per game (11.7).
Laney had 17 double digit rebounding efforts last season and has posted double figure rebounds in 15 of her 20 appearances this season.
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 85 times with only 30 miscues through 22 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 17 of her 22 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 358
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 34 games with three or more blocks. She currently has 205 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 BLOCKS
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) - 205
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
20/20 VISION
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 registered 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.
20/20 VISION
Six times this season, a pair of Scarlet Knights have dropped in 20 or more points in a game.
Most recently, Kahleah Copper captured a season-high 25 points and Tyler Scaife added in 21 points in a 76-65 win over Penn State on Feb. 1. It was the first time two Scarlet Knights dropped in 20 or more points since Betnijah Laney and Scaife both captured 20 points in RU's first Big Ten home victory against Michigan back on Jan. 7.
In the prior game, 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 registered 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, Tyler Scaife leads the Scarlet Knights with the most 20+ point games with eight, followed by Betnijah Laney and Kahleah Copper with six.
UP NEXT
The Rutgers women's basketball team leaves Ann Arbor and travels to College Park to wrap up the season series with the Maryland Terrapins. The Terps, ranked fifth in both the AP and ESPN/USA Today Polls, host the Scarlet Knights on Tuesday, Feb. 10 at 9 p.m. on BTN.
The Rutgers women's basketball team leaves Ann Arbor and travels to College Park to wrap up the season series with the Maryland Terrapins. The Terps, ranked fifth in both the AP and ESPN/USA Today Polls, host the Scarlet Knights on Tuesday, Feb. 10 at 9 p.m. on BTN.
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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