PISCATAWAY, N.J. (Nov. 13, 2019) – Rutgers women's basketball (3-0) held Niagara (0-3) to 20 percent shooting from the field in a 87-37 victory on Wednesday evening at the RAC. The Scarlet Knights have outscored its three opponents by an average of 48.3 points in the undefeated start to the season.
It was a total team effort with all 10 Scarlet Knights receiving minutes in the game scoring at least three points. Seventy percent of Rutgers' field goals were assisted in the victory (23-of-33).
- Redshirt junior guard Arella Guirantes paced the attack with 24 points on 9-of-16 shooting and a career-high tying four 3-pointers. The Bellport, New York native added seven rebounds and five assists, and now averages 22.7 points per game through three contests.
- Junior wing Tekia Mack added 15 points, six boards and four assists.
- Junior forward Mael Gilles tied her career high with 16 rebounds to go with her 10 points in a game-high 30 minutes. It was her first double-double of the year and second of her career.
Any chance of a Purple Eagle comeback attempt was snuffed out by Guirantes in the second quarter. Back-to-back triples started a 15-point period for the redshirt junior guard. At one point, Guirantes scored 15 of 19 Rutgers points to lead her squad into the intermission up 46-19.
- A pair of early runs resulted in a quick double-digit lead. The 6-0 opening run was powered by four points from Wallace, then Mack fueled another 8-0 run with a three-point lay and a slick steal-fast break layup combo for a 22-9 advantage.
- Guirantes hit three-pointers in consecutive possessions midway through the second to secure a 33-12 lead. She scored 15 points in the second quarter alone to send her squad to halftime up 27.
- The game entered a two-way scoring drought halfway through the third that lasted nearly four minutes. Despite that, Rutgers 7-0 before that cold spell created a 55-21 cushion. Rutgers caused five turnovers during a six-minute span of dogged defense.
- The Rutgers newcomers heated up in the fourth with freshman guard Joiya Maddox knocking down a pair of three-pointers, and grad transfer guard Danielle Migliore draining a pair of triples herself down the stretch.
- Rutgers has held all three opponents under their scoring averages this season, including stopping the Purple Eagles by 30 points under their young season standard. Niagara came in averaging 67.0 this year and 61.3 last season. RU has held 33 of its last 35 under their scoring average.
- All 10 Scarlet Knights receiving minutes in the contest scored at least three points, while seven different players scored at least six.
- After not holding an opponent to under 25 percent shooting since 2015, Rutgers has now accomplished the feat twice in a row (21% vs. Coppin State, 20% vs. Niagara).
- Coming into the game, Rutgers ranked sixth in the nation with a .248 field goal percentage defense. That number has now dipped to .233.
- RU remains flawless against Niagara at 4-0 all-time in their first meeting since 1995.
- The Scarlet Knights are 207-48 (.812) at home since 2002-03, and 47-5 since the beginning of 2018-19.
- C. Vivian Stringer is now one win away from tying UNC's Sylvia Hatchell for fifth place in all-time NCAA women's basketball victories.
- Coach Stringer used Khadaizha Sanders, Gilles, Guirantes, Mack and Jordan Wallace as the starting lineup for the third straight game to start the season. Last year's starts for those five: Sanders 0, Gilles 9, Guirantes 21, Mack 2 and Wallace 0.
- Sophomore guard Zipporah Broughton made her second appearance of the season and played a season-high 17 minutes after missing the season opener with an injury and playing two-plus minutes in the home opener on Saturday. Broughton finished with seven points, three rebounds, four assists, a steal and a block.
- Rutgers hasn't trailed on the scoreboard through 120 minutes of game play to start the 2019-20 season.
The Scarlet Knights conclude a three-game home stand on Sunday, Nov. 17 at 2 p.m. ET against Harvard at the RAC.
Gallery: (11/14/2019) Women's Hoops vs. Niagara
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