Dente Named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week
May 03 | Women's Lacrosse
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Rutgers women's lacrosse sophomore goalie Bianca Dente (Yorktown Heights, N.Y.) was named the Big Ten Conference Women's Lacrosse Defensive Player of the Week, announced Tuesday by the league office. Dente made 11 saves and allowed a season-low six goals in a 16-6 victory against Michigan on April 30 to close the regular season. The Scarlet Knights have now earned a Big Ten weekly honor in consecutive weeks. Senior Halley Barnes (Garnet Valley, Pa.) earned the offensive player of the week award last Tuesday.
"B is a fun player to coach," said head coach Laura Brand-Sias. "She responds well to adjustments and challenges and has really dedicated herself to improving as the season has progressed. Her hard work is definitely paying off and she is hitting her stride at the right time which is huge for us."
Dente, the third Big Ten weekly honoree this season, has played in 15 games and made 10 saves this season, earning the first Big Ten honors of her career. The sophomore has made 84 saves in 563:46 minutes of action, including three games of at least 10 stops.
RU has received honorees in all three Big Ten weekly categories in 2016. Barnes collected her first career Big Ten weekly honor and first offensive player of the week award for the program last week after scoring six goals against then-No. 15 Ohio State. On March 22, rookie Abbey Brooks (Moorestown, N.J.) was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week after scoring five goals and tallying an assist against James Madison.
Fourth-seeded Rutgers women's lacrosse takes part in the 2016 Big Ten Tournament, hosted by Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill., beginning Thursday, May 5 at noon against No. 5 Ohio State. The Scarlet Knights and Buckeyes meet in the opening round for the second consecutive season.
The winner between Ohio State and Rutgers will advance to play No. 1 Maryland in the Big Ten Tournament Semifinals on Friday, May 6 at 6:30 p.m. All games of the 2016 Big Ten Tournament will be televised live nationally on Big Ten Network.
Follow Rutgers Athletics on Facebook and Twitter for all of the latest news and updates. For specific updates regarding Rutgers women's lacrosse, follow the program Facebook, and on Twitter and Instagram @RULaxBrand. Fans can receive timely information, including special offers and giveaways throughout the year on both social media outlets along with www.ScarletKnights.com.
