Wednesday, February 21
Piscataway, N.J.
7:00 PM
Rutgers University
vs
Iowa
Women's Basketball Closes Out Regular Season at Northwestern
Feb 23 | Women's Basketball
Scarlet Knights & Wildcats Tipoff on Sunday at 3 p.m. (ET)
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - The Rutgers women's basketball team closes out the 2017-18 regular season campaign on Sunday at Northwestern. The Scarlet Knights and Wildcats tipoff at 3 p.m. (ET) with a live stream available from BTN Plus and radio coverage available from WRSU, Rutgers' student radio station with Jake Ostrove and Brad Loprinzi on the call.
ONE FOR THE ROAD
The Scarlet Knights are coming off a heartbreaker, falling 77-67 in overtime to the Iowa Hawkeyes. RU was down 13-4 in the first quarter but powered back to lead by as many as 13 midway through the third quarter. A 10-4 run by the Hawkeyes beginning at the midpoint of the final stanza brought Iowa within two, 56-54, with a minute to go. Trading buckets down the stretch, Iowa's Kathleen Doyle managed a 3-pointer to tie the game up at 59-59 to force overtime where the Hawkeyes outscored Rutgers, 18-8.
Redshirt senior guard Tyler Scaife poured in a career-high 30 points in the overtime loss. Junior forward Caitlin Jenkins, meanwhile, hauled in 10 rebounds for her 11th double figure rebounding effort of the season.
The Wildcats welcome the Scarlet Knights at 10-19 overall and 3-12 in conference play.
Northwestern has dropped nine of its last 10 contests. The Wildcats snapped an eight-game losing streak on Feb. 18 with a 68-61 victory at home over Illinois, but dropped an 88-54 contest at Ohio State on Wednesday night.
A trio of Wildcats are averaging double figures led by freshman guard Lindsey Pulliam at 14.3 points per game. Sophomore forward/center Abi Scheid checks in at 12.4 points per contest, while junior forward Pallas Kunaiyi-Akpanah is pouring in 11.4 points per outing to go along with a team-leading and Big Ten second best 11.6 rebounds per game.
STRINGER MILESTONE NUMBERS TO REMEMBER
Rutgers head coach Stringer has compiled a 996-400 career record in 47 seasons and is four wins away from joining the elite 1,000 career victories club in women's basketball.
Stringer's 34 20-win seasons are second-best in women's basketball history. Former Tennessee head coach Pat Summit leads all coaches with 36 20-win seasons.
SCAIFE MILESTONE NUMBERS TO REMEMBER
Redshirt senior guard Tyler Scaife currently needs 28 more points to move into second place on the all-time list past Cappie Pondexter (2002-2006).
Scaife has scored 573 points this season and kicked off the 2017-18 campaign 10th all-time in scoring.
Scaife is also among the active leading scorers in Division I:
1 Kelsey Mitchell , Ohio St. 3,264
2 Katelynn Flaherty , Michigan 2,683
3 Victoria Vivians , Mississippi St. 2,310
4 A'Ja Wilson , South Carolina 2,210
5 Tyra Buss , Indiana 2,192
6 Tyler Scaife , Rutgers 2,184
7 Kolby Morgan , Tulane 2,154
8 Jasmine Nwajei , Syracuse 2,150
9 Kahlia Lawrence , Mercer 2,137
10 Ke'Shunan James, Murray St. 2,131
GETTING THE POINTS
Rutgers is enjoying one of its highest scoring averages under C. Vivian Stringer's 23-year tenure "On the Banks"
Top RU Scoring Averages Under C. Vivian Stringer
1. 70.0 (35 games) 1998-99 – 29-6 – Elite Eight
2t. 68.7 (32 games) 2014-15 - 23-10 - 2nd Round
2t. 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. 65.8 (29 games) 2017-18 - 19-10 - Current Season
7. 65.6 (31 games) 2000-01 – 23-8 – 2nd Round
MOST IMPROVED TEAM
Rutgers is on pace to become the NCAA Division I Most Improved Team in 2017-18.
16-17: 17-18:
1t. Rutgers (+13) 6-24 19-10
1t. Nebraska (+13) 7-22 20-8
3. UC Irvine (+12) 5-26 17-10
4. Denver (+10) 6-24 16-12
5t. Butler (+8) 6-25 14-15
5t. Ala. A&M (+8) 2-25 10-15
5t. Houston (+8) 12-19 20-8
NATIONALLY SPEAKING
As a team, Rutgers appeared in the top 25 in four categories including ranking second in steals (352) and ninth in steals per game (12.1)
Individually, redshirt senior guard Tyler Scaife is third in field goals made (230), fifth in field goals attempted (511) and 13th in total points (573).
B1G SPEAKING
You can find Rutgers leading the Big Ten in scoring defense (59.2) , steals (12.1) and blocked shots (5.2) and second in turnover margin (+4.9).
Among conference peers:
- Redshirt senior guard Tyler Scaife is fifth in scoring (19.8), 13th in field goal percentage (.447) and fifth in free throw percentage (.816).
- Junior forward Caitlin Jenkins is 11th in rebounding (7.7) and sixth in blocks (1.4).
- Redshirt junior forward Stasha Carey is stied for fourth in steals (2.0), tied for 10th in blocks (1.2) and 16th in rebounding (6.9).
- Redshirt sophomore Ciani Cryor is tied for seventh in steals (1.9).
- Junior guard Khadaizha Sanders is tied for 13th in assists (3.6).
- Junior center Victoria Harris is tied for 10th in blocks (1.2).
D-D-D-DEFENSE
The defense has turned up the pressure this season and currently leads the Big Ten in scoring defense holding opponents to just 59.2 points per game. Twenty-seven of RU's 29 opponents to date have been held under their scoring average.
MORE TO THE POINT
Junior Khadaizha Sanders returned to the hardwood in Wednesday's contest versus Iowa after missing three games with an injury to her right elbow.
In her return, the RU point guard came off the bench for four points, going 2-of-4 from the field, along with five assists. It marked her eighth game this season with five or more helpers.
HAULING GLASS
Junior forward Caitlin Jenkins has been a monster on the boards for the Scarlet Knights this season.
Jenkins is not only averaging a team-leading 7.7 rebounds per game, ranking her 11th in the Big Ten, but has registered double digit rebounds in 11 contests this season. She has averaged 9.5 boards in the last two games with Wisconsin and Iowa
Most recently, Jenkins grabbed 10 rebounds in RU's overtime loss vs. Iowa on Feb. 21 and in back-to-back games with Michigan & No. 13/14 Michigan. Against the Hoosiers, nine of her boards came off the defensive glass.
UP NEXT
Following Sunday's contest the Scarlet Knights will head into postseason mode gearing up for the 2018 Big Ten Women's Basketball Championships being held at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
Follow Rutgers women's basketball at www.ScarletKnights.com and (@RutgersWBB) on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for all of the latest news and updates.
ONE FOR THE ROAD
The Scarlet Knights are coming off a heartbreaker, falling 77-67 in overtime to the Iowa Hawkeyes. RU was down 13-4 in the first quarter but powered back to lead by as many as 13 midway through the third quarter. A 10-4 run by the Hawkeyes beginning at the midpoint of the final stanza brought Iowa within two, 56-54, with a minute to go. Trading buckets down the stretch, Iowa's Kathleen Doyle managed a 3-pointer to tie the game up at 59-59 to force overtime where the Hawkeyes outscored Rutgers, 18-8.
Redshirt senior guard Tyler Scaife poured in a career-high 30 points in the overtime loss. Junior forward Caitlin Jenkins, meanwhile, hauled in 10 rebounds for her 11th double figure rebounding effort of the season.
ABOUT NORTHWESTERNGetting buckets - @T_SCAIFE set a new career high with 30 points against Iowa pic.twitter.com/sr32bRo6nS
— Rutgers W.Basketball (@RutgersWBB) February 22, 2018
The Wildcats welcome the Scarlet Knights at 10-19 overall and 3-12 in conference play.
Northwestern has dropped nine of its last 10 contests. The Wildcats snapped an eight-game losing streak on Feb. 18 with a 68-61 victory at home over Illinois, but dropped an 88-54 contest at Ohio State on Wednesday night.
A trio of Wildcats are averaging double figures led by freshman guard Lindsey Pulliam at 14.3 points per game. Sophomore forward/center Abi Scheid checks in at 12.4 points per contest, while junior forward Pallas Kunaiyi-Akpanah is pouring in 11.4 points per outing to go along with a team-leading and Big Ten second best 11.6 rebounds per game.
STRINGER MILESTONE NUMBERS TO REMEMBER
Rutgers head coach Stringer has compiled a 996-400 career record in 47 seasons and is four wins away from joining the elite 1,000 career victories club in women's basketball.
Stringer's 34 20-win seasons are second-best in women's basketball history. Former Tennessee head coach Pat Summit leads all coaches with 36 20-win seasons.
SCAIFE MILESTONE NUMBERS TO REMEMBER
Redshirt senior guard Tyler Scaife currently needs 28 more points to move into second place on the all-time list past Cappie Pondexter (2002-2006).
Scaife has scored 573 points this season and kicked off the 2017-18 campaign 10th all-time in scoring.
Scaife is also among the active leading scorers in Division I:
1 Kelsey Mitchell , Ohio St. 3,264
2 Katelynn Flaherty , Michigan 2,683
3 Victoria Vivians , Mississippi St. 2,310
4 A'Ja Wilson , South Carolina 2,210
5 Tyra Buss , Indiana 2,192
6 Tyler Scaife , Rutgers 2,184
7 Kolby Morgan , Tulane 2,154
8 Jasmine Nwajei , Syracuse 2,150
9 Kahlia Lawrence , Mercer 2,137
10 Ke'Shunan James, Murray St. 2,131
GETTING THE POINTS
Rutgers is enjoying one of its highest scoring averages under C. Vivian Stringer's 23-year tenure "On the Banks"
Top RU Scoring Averages Under C. Vivian Stringer
1. 70.0 (35 games) 1998-99 – 29-6 – Elite Eight
2t. 68.7 (32 games) 2014-15 - 23-10 - 2nd Round
2t. 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. 65.8 (29 games) 2017-18 - 19-10 - Current Season
7. 65.6 (31 games) 2000-01 – 23-8 – 2nd Round
MOST IMPROVED TEAM
Rutgers is on pace to become the NCAA Division I Most Improved Team in 2017-18.
16-17: 17-18:
1t. Rutgers (+13) 6-24 19-10
1t. Nebraska (+13) 7-22 20-8
3. UC Irvine (+12) 5-26 17-10
4. Denver (+10) 6-24 16-12
5t. Butler (+8) 6-25 14-15
5t. Ala. A&M (+8) 2-25 10-15
5t. Houston (+8) 12-19 20-8
NATIONALLY SPEAKING
As a team, Rutgers appeared in the top 25 in four categories including ranking second in steals (352) and ninth in steals per game (12.1)
Individually, redshirt senior guard Tyler Scaife is third in field goals made (230), fifth in field goals attempted (511) and 13th in total points (573).
B1G SPEAKING
You can find Rutgers leading the Big Ten in scoring defense (59.2) , steals (12.1) and blocked shots (5.2) and second in turnover margin (+4.9).
Among conference peers:
- Redshirt senior guard Tyler Scaife is fifth in scoring (19.8), 13th in field goal percentage (.447) and fifth in free throw percentage (.816).
- Junior forward Caitlin Jenkins is 11th in rebounding (7.7) and sixth in blocks (1.4).
- Redshirt junior forward Stasha Carey is stied for fourth in steals (2.0), tied for 10th in blocks (1.2) and 16th in rebounding (6.9).
- Redshirt sophomore Ciani Cryor is tied for seventh in steals (1.9).
- Junior guard Khadaizha Sanders is tied for 13th in assists (3.6).
- Junior center Victoria Harris is tied for 10th in blocks (1.2).
D-D-D-DEFENSE
The defense has turned up the pressure this season and currently leads the Big Ten in scoring defense holding opponents to just 59.2 points per game. Twenty-seven of RU's 29 opponents to date have been held under their scoring average.
MORE TO THE POINT
Junior Khadaizha Sanders returned to the hardwood in Wednesday's contest versus Iowa after missing three games with an injury to her right elbow.
In her return, the RU point guard came off the bench for four points, going 2-of-4 from the field, along with five assists. It marked her eighth game this season with five or more helpers.
HAULING GLASS
Junior forward Caitlin Jenkins has been a monster on the boards for the Scarlet Knights this season.
Jenkins is not only averaging a team-leading 7.7 rebounds per game, ranking her 11th in the Big Ten, but has registered double digit rebounds in 11 contests this season. She has averaged 9.5 boards in the last two games with Wisconsin and Iowa
Most recently, Jenkins grabbed 10 rebounds in RU's overtime loss vs. Iowa on Feb. 21 and in back-to-back games with Michigan & No. 13/14 Michigan. Against the Hoosiers, nine of her boards came off the defensive glass.
UP NEXT
Following Sunday's contest the Scarlet Knights will head into postseason mode gearing up for the 2018 Big Ten Women's Basketball Championships being held at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
Follow Rutgers women's basketball at www.ScarletKnights.com and (@RutgersWBB) on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for all of the latest news and updates.
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