WBB Meets Up With Minnesota Thursday
Feb 03 | Women's Basketball
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - The Rutgers women's basketball team begins a two game road trip by closing out the season series with Minnesota on Thursday, Feb. 4 at 8 p.m.
| Game Twenty Three: Rutgers (13-9, 4-6 Big Ten) at Minnesota (14-7, 6-4 Big Ten) | |
| Date | Thursday, Feb. 4 |
| Time | 8:00 p.m. EST |
| Location | Williams Arena | Minneapolis, Minn. |
| Video | BTN Plus |
| Radio | WRSU 88.7 FM (Dominick Savino & Lea Ginefra) |
| Live Stats | |
| Game Notes | Rutgers | Minnesota |
| Conference Game Notes | Big Ten |
| Statistics | Rutgers | Minnesota |
TWO GAME ROAD TRIP BEGINS AT MINNESOTA
The Rutgers women's basketball team snapped a four-game losing streak on Saturday afternoon with a 66-56 victory over Nebraska.
The Scarlet Knights overcame a 12-point first quarter deficit and with the game tied at 40-40 at the end of the third quarter, outscored the Cornhuskers 26-16 in the final frame. RU's 26 points in the fourth quarter are the most scored by the Scarlet Knights in any quarter against a Big Ten opponent this season.
Four Scarlet Knights finished in double figures as Tyler Scaife poured in 20 points to move into 15th all-time in scoring. Shrita Parker followed with a career-high 13 points, while Rachel Hollivay added in 12 and Briyona Canty rounded out the double figure scorers with 11.
ABOUT MINNESOTA
The Scarlet Knights make their way to Williams Arena for the first time in school history to meet the Golden Gophers who sport a 14-7 overall and 6-4 mark in the Big Ten.
On Sunday, Minnesota had a four-game win streak snapped at Michigan with a 92-76 loss to the Wolverines.
Rachel Banham leads the Golden Gophers at 24.3 points per game, which ranks her second in the Big Ten, behind Ohio State's Kelsey Mitchell, and fifth nationally.
Carlie Wagner is Minnesota's only other player averaging double figures at 19.1 points per game, which lands her seventh among all Big Ten scorers.
While the Scarlet Knights ranked last in the Big Ten in scoring offense at netting 61.1 points per game, the Golden Gophers are last in scoring defense as their opposition is averaging 74.1 points per contest.
Additionally, the Golden Gophers lead the Big Ten in three-point field goals made averaging 9.0 made shots from beyond the arc. They are ninth nationally in the category.
LAST TIME VS. MINNESOTA
The Rutgers women's basketball team opened Big Ten play with a bang with a second half comeback to defeat Minnesota, 66-55, in a New Year's Eve showdown at the RAC.
RU had two Scarlet Knights register double-doubles as senior Rachel Hollivay posted 14 points and 12 rebounds and classmate Kahleah Copper notched 10 points and 11 rebounds. Senior Briyona Canty nearly completed the feat as she tied her career-high with 10 assists to go along with eight points, while also tying her career-best in steals (6). Junior Tyler Scaife also contributed a game-high 23 points in the win.
The Gophers were led by Carlie Wagner with 22 points. Rachel Banham, who entered the contest averaging 23.1 points per contest, followed with 17 points, nine of which came from the three-point range.
Rutgers ran to a 6-0 lead to start the contest, holding Minnesota scoreless for nearly four minutes of play. The Gophers tacked on their first points with a three by Banham, but Scaife responded with a three of her own to extend the RU lead to 9-3 with 6:37 to go in the first.
Minnesota took control of the initial wire-to-wire battle, outscoring RU 21-4 to move in front, 24-13, at the start of the second quarter. The Scarlet Knights, however, found resurgence with seven straight points, capped by a steal by Canty to set up a three by senior Cynthia Hernandez to pull RU within four with 5:02 to go in the half.
Although Rutgers never let up and was able to cut the deficit to two at 29-27, Minnesota held firm to its edge to carry a 33-27 lead into halftime.
The Gophers were able to hold at least a five-point cushion throughout a majority of the third quarter, leading 44-36 with 1:59 to go in the frame. However, after the Scarlet Knights responded with a 7-0 run to close out the third and was able to re-claim the lead, 45-44, with 9:32 to go in the fourth.
A back-and-fourth battle ensued well into the game's final frame, as the lead changed and the score was tied at 59-59. A Scaife basket followed by a three-point play from sophomore Shrita Parker put RU up for good, 54-49, with 3:16 to go in the contest.
Rutgers ended the fourth quarter outscoring the Gophers 25-11.
WATCHING THE WATCH LISTS
Tyler Scaife and Kahleah Copper were among the 18 women's basketball student-athletes on the Dawn Staley Mid-Season Watch List.
For Scaife, it is her second consecutive season on the Staley Mid-Season Watch List.
Senior forward Kahleah Copper was one of 20 student-athletes from 16 schools to be named to the Ann Meyers Drysdale Watch List and one of 50 named to the Naismith Trophy Early Season Watch List for National Player of the Year.
LOOKING TO BECOME ROAD WARRIOR
S Rutgers owns a 9-2 record on the 2015-16 season at the RAC, including winning eight of their last nine contests at home, but are continuing to look to add to the road win column. The Scarlet Knights are 4-7 away from the friendly confines of the hardwood in Piscataway, N.J.
GOLDEN TOUCH AGAINST THE GOPHERS
Tyler Scaife has put up big numbers in her two meetings with Minnesota. Scaife has averaged 25.5 points against the Golden Gophers having notched a season-high 28 points last season to go along with a game-high 23 points in the New Year's Eve victory.
PLAYING FROM BEHIND
Rutgers is 3-5 on the season when trailing at the half.
On Saturday, the Scarlet Knights were down by as many 12 points in the first quarter and entered intermission trailing 27-26 before fighting back to a 66-56 victory.
RU was down 33-27 at the intermission of the Big Ten opener against Minnesota, but managed to overcome the deficit enroute to its 66-55 win on Dec. 31.
The Scarlet Knights' also played come from behind against Green Bay at the Paradise Jam, trailing 22-19 at the half before emerging with a 54-43 victory to claim the tournament title.
In both Minnesota and Green Bay come from behind victories, the Scarlet Knights trailed by as many as 11.
BLOCK PARTY
With five rejections in RU's last time out against Nebraska, senior Rachel Hollivay moved even closer to becoming the all-time blocks leader in Rutgers women's basketball history. She needs three more blocks to tie Rutgers great Sue Wicks (1984-88) and four more blocks to take control of the top position.
The senior Scarlet Knight leads the Big Ten with 70 rejections and ranks sixth among all Division I players. She has registered 49 games in her career with three or more blocks.
Hollivay ended her sophomore season with 127 rejections which ranks her 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.
Rutgers All-Time Blocked Shots
1. Sue Wicks (1984-88) - 293
2. Rachel Hollivay (2012-present) - 290
3. Kia Vaughn (2005-09) - 279
4. LaTonya Johnson (1988-92) - 248
5. Tanya Hansen (1988-92) - 245
CRACKING THE TOP TEN
With her 18 points against Ohio State on Sunday, Kahleah Copper became the ninth Scarlet Knight to collect over 1,600 career points.
She is currently eighth all-time in scoring at Rutgers surpassing Matee Ajavon (2004-08) on Saturday against Nebraska.
Copper needs 57 more points to move into seventh all-time "On The Banks" past Tanya Hansen (1988-92).
Teammate Tyler Scaife also continues to move up the scoring leaders list. On Saturday against Nebraska, Scaife netted 20 points to become the 16th Scarlet Knight to collect over 1,400 career points. She pushed her name above former teammate Betnijah Laney into 15th all-time at Rutgers with 1,403 career points.
SHOOTING SOLUTION
Shrita Parker reset her career high once again as one of four Scarlet Knights in double figures in RU's 66-56 victory over Nebraska on Saturday. Parker recorded 14 points in the win.
Parker was also one of four Scarlet Knights in double figures in RU's setback to No. 7/7 Ohio State on Jan. 14.
Parker collected a career-high 13 points in her seventh start of the season. The sophomore Scarlet Knight went 4-of-8 from the field, including a 4-of-7 mark from three-point range, either tying or resetting personal bench marks in makes and attempts.
Parker's four made shots from beyond the arc against the Buckeyes ties for the most made by a Scarlet Knight this season.
UP NEXT
RU travels to State College for its only regular season meeting with Penn State on Sunday, Feb. 7.
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-RU-
