Women's Basketball Travels To Houston
Dec 09 | Women's Basketball
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - The Rutgers women's basketball team looks to get back on track with a Saturday evening matchup at Houston. The Scarlet Knights and Cougars tip off at 6 p.m.
| Game Eleven: Houston (3-5, 0-0 American) | |
| Date | Saturday, Dec. 10 |
| Time | 6:00 p.m. EST |
| Location | Hofheinz Pavilon | Houston, Texas |
| Video | Houston All-Access |
| Radio | WRSU 88.7 FM (Ryan Moran & Lance Glinn) |
| Live Stats | |
| Game Notes | Rutgers ( Big Ten) | Houston ( American) |
| Stats | Rutgers | Houston |
SCARLET KNIGHTS MAKE THEIR WAY TO LONE STAR STATE
Rutgers travels to Houston to meet the Cougars on Saturday evening in the third ever meeting between the two programs. The Scarlet Knights are coming off a stretch of four games in seven days and suffered a 65-39 setback at St. John's on Wednesday night.
Against the Red Storm, Kandiss Barber led RU with 11 points, while newcomers Jordan Wallace and Jazlynd Rollins came off the bench to net eight and seven points respectively.
Rutgers did manage to outrebound St. John's, 41-36, with Desiree Keeling grabbing nine boards and Wallace hauling in eight.
ABOUT HOUSTON
The Cougars welcome the Scarlet Knights on Saturday with a 3-5 overall mark. Houston had a two-game win streak snapped on Wednesday with an 84-60 setback at Texas Tech. Previously, the Cougars earned a 79-62 victory against the College of Charleston and a 68-52 win over UT-Rio Grande Valley.
Freshman guard Angela Harris leads the Cougars at 10.8 ppg and is closely followed by junior Chyanne Butler at 10.6 ppg. Harris was named the American Conference Freshman of the Week earlier this year after averaging 8.5 points and 4.5 steals in games with Texas State and Mercer.
On the boards, Houston is led by sophomore guard Serithia Hawkins at 8.5 rpg to go along with 7.6 ppg. Hawkins has collected double-doubles in contests with Texas State and Mercer.
Two faces on the Houston bench may be familiar to Scarlet Knight fans.
Head coach Ronald Hughey served as an assistant on C. Vivian Stringer's staff in 2009-10 helping RU to a 19-15 record and NCAA Tournament appearance.
Assistant coach Vicky Picott played for the Scarlet Knights from 1987-1991 guiding RU to four-straight NCAA Tournament appearances and an Atlantic 10 Tournament Championship in 1988. During her time "On the Banks," she compiled 1,792 points (currently fifth all-time) and 1,029 rebounds (currently fourth all-time). She was the 1988 Atlantic-10 Freshman of the Year, a Second Team All-A-10 selection as a sophomore and first team pick as both a junior and senior. Picott also won a silver medal at the 1989 Olympic Festival and played for the 1988 U.S. Junior National Team.
LAST TIME VS. HOUSTON
C. Vivian Stringer captured her 400th win as head coach of the Rutgers women's basketball team, as the Scarlet Knights handed Houston a 74-42 loss at Hofheinz Arena on Feb. 11, 2014.
Rutgers had four players in double figures, led by Kahleah Copper and Tyler Scaife with 16 points each. Betnijah Laney added 14, while Briyona Canty had 12 from off the bench.
Yaseem Thompson led Houston with 24 points, the only Cougar in double figures in the loss.
Copper started with the hot hand, helping the Scarlet Knights to a 14-6 lead to open the game. RU's leading scorer picked up her second foul with less than 12 minutes remaining and was forced to the bench. Scaife took over the scoring duties, netting 10 of her 12 first half points with Copper sidelined in foul trouble.
Marche' Amerson hit a jumper with 7:23 left in the opening half, as her Cougar squad trailed, 22-10. However, Houston would manage only one other field goal over that final span.
Rutgers proceeded to take an 11-0 run holding the Cougars scoreless for just over six minutes and closed out the half on an 11-4 run.
The Scarlet Knights held a 33-14 advantage at halftime and proceeded to add on to the lead in the second half. Rutgers went up by more than 20 points for good when Scaife blocked an Alecia Smith lay-up with 14:11 remaining and put the Scarlet Knights up 45-24 on the other end with a jumper from the right baseline while falling backwards. Scaife finished the night with three blocked shots.
RU led by as many as 37 points with four and a half minutes to play.
MILESTONE NUMBERS
In last Saturday's win over Bucknell, the Rutgers women's basketball team played its 1300th game in history since beginning the program in 1974. Since then, RU has gone 899-403 and is just one win shy of becoming the 18th program in history to capture 900 program victories.
UP NEXT
Rutgers is back at the RAC for its final two nonconference contests before breaking for the holidays. The Scarlet Knights host Seton Hall on Tuesday, Dec. 13 on BTN with Jason Horowitz and Vera Jones on the call. RU will also welcome Temple on Saturday, Dec. 17.
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-
