Sunday, March 3
Columbus, Ohio
2:00 p.m.
Rutgers University
at
Ohio State
Photo by: (Ben Solomon/Rutgers Athletics)
Women's Hoops Closes Out Regular Season Sunday at Ohio State
Mar 02 | Women's Basketball
Scarlet Knights & Buckeyes Tipoff at 2 p.m. on BTN
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - The Rutgers women's basketball team closes out the 2018-19 regular season on Sunday at Ohio State. Tipoff is slated for 2 p.m. on BTN.
The Rutgers women's basketball team's regular schedule comes to a close on Sunday with a road date at Ohio State on BTN at 2 p.m.
The Scarlet Knights locked up the No. 3 seed at the upcoming Big Ten Women's Basketball Tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis with a 60-54 victory over Minnesota. While the seed for the tournament is set, Rutgers can still finish tied for second place in the Big Ten standings with a win over the Buckeyes and a Northwestern victory over Iowa. The Hawkeyes own the tie break over the Scarlet Knights having taken a 72-66 win at Carver Hawkeye Arena in the lone meeting between the two squads back on Jan. 23.
Redshirt sophomore guard Arella Guirantes logged a new career-high with a game-high 25 points in Thursday's win over the Golden Gophers. Additionally redshirt senior forward Stasha Carey, who was one of four Scarlet Knights honored prior to the game, logged her third double-double of the year with 13 points and a season-high tying 11 rebounds.
ABOUT OHIO STATE
The Buckeye's 59-39 win over the Scarlet Knights on Valentine's Day kicked off a six-game win streak that Ohio State takes into Sunday's regular season finale. The Buckeyes are 14-12 overall and 10-7 in league play.
Dorka Juhasz leads Ohio State at 11.9 points per game and a team-leading 9.0 rebounds per game. She is sixth in the conference on the boards.
Carly Santoro checks in as the Buckeye's second-leading scorer at 11.5 points per game along with 4.1 rebounds per contest.
Carmen Grande is second in the Big Ten in assists averaging 5.0 per game.
LAST TIME VS. OHIO STATE
Rutgers women's dropped a Valentine's Day matchup with Ohio State, 59-39, at the RAC.
Redshirt senior forward Stasha Carey nearly eclipsed a double-double, posting 10 rebounds and nine points to lead RU in the game. Redshirt sophomore Arella Guirantes followed with nine points and nine rebounds.
OSU was paced by Adreana Miller with 14 points followed by Carly Santoro with 12 points and Janai Crooms with 10 points.
Rutgers and Ohio State each had a slow start to the contest, as the Buckeyes held a 6-5 edge at the 4:50 mark in the first quarter. From there, OSU found a 17-1 surge to extend its lead to 23-6 at the end of the frame.
The teams would go on to trade baskets throughout the second quarter. The scoring balanced out, 12-12, in the stanza, but the Buckeyes lead remained intact, moving in front 35-18 by halftime.
The third quarter would be a low scoring affair for both sides, as RU started it off with an 8-4 run to cut into the deficit, 38-24, by the 5:30 mark. OSU tacked on just four more points in the frame, holding a 42-26 advantage moving into the fourth.
After outscoring the Buckeyes, 8-7, in the third quarter, Rutgers closed in as close as 15 points on two occasions in the final frame. Freshman guard Noga Peleg Pelc drained the Scarlet Knights' first 3-pointer of the game with 6:11. The rookie Scarlet Knights' points saw RU trail 47-32, but the Ohio State lead was too much to overcome.
ON THE SIDELINES
Tim Eatman will serve as acting head coach for head coach C. Vivian Stringer, who is expected to return to the sidelines following the Big Ten Tournament.
This is Coach Eatman's second stint filling in for Coach Stringer. He previously served as acting head coach for three games following the illness and passing of Stringer's mother, Thelma Stoner, in 2016.
B1G REGULAR SEASON RECORDS
Rutgers needs one more regular season conference victory for the most Big Ten wins in a season since joining the league in 2014.
2014-15: 12-6
2018-19: 12-5
2015-16: 8-10
2017-18: 7-9
2016-17: 3-12
The Scarlet Knights also earned its highest Big Ten Tournament seed ever.
Year - Seed (Finish)
2017-18: Ninth Seed (Quarterfinals)
2016-17: Fourteen Seed (First Round)
2015-16: Tenth Seed (Quarterfinals)
2014-15: Fifth Seed (Quarterfinals)
STRINGER MILESTONE NUMBERS TO REMEMBER
Rutgers head coach Stringer has compiled a 1017-410 career record in her 48th season of coaching and joined the elite 1,000 career victory club on November 13 in the Scarlet Knight victory over Central Connecticut State.
Stringer is the sixth NCAA women's basketball coach and fifth NCAA Division I women's basketball coach to reach the milestone victory.
In 2013, Stringer became just the seventh coach - men's or women's - to reach the 900-win mark.
With a 60-54 win over Minnesota on Feb. 28, Stringer earned her 36th 20-win seasons to tie former Tennessee head coach Pat Summitt for women's basketball coaches with the most 20-win seasons.
The Naismith and Women's Basketball Hall of Fame Coach is the fifth active winningest Division I coach and sixth all-time in career wins in NCAA women's basketball history.
Stringer is also approaching another milestone. She is three wins away from capturing her 500th victory at Rutgers.
B1G SPEAKING
Among conference peers, Rutgers currently ranks:
Scoring Defense - 1st - 57.3
Steals - 1st - 10.4
Field Goal Pct. Defense - 2nd - .367
Rebounding Defense - 2nd - 32.4
The following Scarlet Knights are ranked among conference peers:
Stasha Carey - 7th - Blocks - 1.5
FREE POINTS
Rutgers has been having on of its best free throw shooting seasons in recent memory.
Top Free Throw Percentages Since 2002-03
2002-03 .762 176-231
2018-19 .731 331-439
2005-06 .714 379-531
2010-11 .713 383-537
2006-07 .703 430-612
2004-05 .700 397-567
D-D-D-DEFENSE
The defense turned up the pressure last season leading the Big Ten in scoring defense holding opponents to just 59.3 points per game.
Twenty-nine of RU's 32 opponents were held under their scoring average.
So far in 2018-19, the trend has held steady with 27 of RU's 28 opponents under their scoring average.
UP NEXT
Following Sunday's game, Rutgers will enjoy a double bye and begin Big Ten Tournament action in the quarterfinals against either the
No. 6, No. 11 or No. 14 seeds. The full bracket will be determined and released on Sunday.
Follow Rutgers women's basketball at www.ScarletKnights.com and (@RutgersWBB) on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for all of the latest news and updates. For additional updates, download the Rutgers Gameday App.
HOW TO WATCH
Sunday's game will air on BTN with Mike Monaco (play-by-play) and Vera Jones (color) and streamed with BTN2Go.
To learn more about BTN2Go and the Fox Sports App, click here.
ON THE AIRWAVES
Sunday's game air will on the Rutgers Radio Network on WCTC 1450 AM with Ralph Bednarczyk (play-by-play) and Mark Peterson (color).
The Rutgers women's basketball team's regular schedule comes to a close on Sunday with a road date at Ohio State on BTN at 2 p.m.
The Scarlet Knights locked up the No. 3 seed at the upcoming Big Ten Women's Basketball Tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis with a 60-54 victory over Minnesota. While the seed for the tournament is set, Rutgers can still finish tied for second place in the Big Ten standings with a win over the Buckeyes and a Northwestern victory over Iowa. The Hawkeyes own the tie break over the Scarlet Knights having taken a 72-66 win at Carver Hawkeye Arena in the lone meeting between the two squads back on Jan. 23.
Redshirt sophomore guard Arella Guirantes logged a new career-high with a game-high 25 points in Thursday's win over the Golden Gophers. Additionally redshirt senior forward Stasha Carey, who was one of four Scarlet Knights honored prior to the game, logged her third double-double of the year with 13 points and a season-high tying 11 rebounds.
ABOUT OHIO STATE
The Buckeye's 59-39 win over the Scarlet Knights on Valentine's Day kicked off a six-game win streak that Ohio State takes into Sunday's regular season finale. The Buckeyes are 14-12 overall and 10-7 in league play.
Dorka Juhasz leads Ohio State at 11.9 points per game and a team-leading 9.0 rebounds per game. She is sixth in the conference on the boards.
Carly Santoro checks in as the Buckeye's second-leading scorer at 11.5 points per game along with 4.1 rebounds per contest.
Carmen Grande is second in the Big Ten in assists averaging 5.0 per game.
LAST TIME VS. OHIO STATE
Rutgers women's dropped a Valentine's Day matchup with Ohio State, 59-39, at the RAC.
Redshirt senior forward Stasha Carey nearly eclipsed a double-double, posting 10 rebounds and nine points to lead RU in the game. Redshirt sophomore Arella Guirantes followed with nine points and nine rebounds.
OSU was paced by Adreana Miller with 14 points followed by Carly Santoro with 12 points and Janai Crooms with 10 points.
Rutgers and Ohio State each had a slow start to the contest, as the Buckeyes held a 6-5 edge at the 4:50 mark in the first quarter. From there, OSU found a 17-1 surge to extend its lead to 23-6 at the end of the frame.
The teams would go on to trade baskets throughout the second quarter. The scoring balanced out, 12-12, in the stanza, but the Buckeyes lead remained intact, moving in front 35-18 by halftime.
The third quarter would be a low scoring affair for both sides, as RU started it off with an 8-4 run to cut into the deficit, 38-24, by the 5:30 mark. OSU tacked on just four more points in the frame, holding a 42-26 advantage moving into the fourth.
After outscoring the Buckeyes, 8-7, in the third quarter, Rutgers closed in as close as 15 points on two occasions in the final frame. Freshman guard Noga Peleg Pelc drained the Scarlet Knights' first 3-pointer of the game with 6:11. The rookie Scarlet Knights' points saw RU trail 47-32, but the Ohio State lead was too much to overcome.
ON THE SIDELINES
Tim Eatman will serve as acting head coach for head coach C. Vivian Stringer, who is expected to return to the sidelines following the Big Ten Tournament.
This is Coach Eatman's second stint filling in for Coach Stringer. He previously served as acting head coach for three games following the illness and passing of Stringer's mother, Thelma Stoner, in 2016.
B1G REGULAR SEASON RECORDS
Rutgers needs one more regular season conference victory for the most Big Ten wins in a season since joining the league in 2014.
2014-15: 12-6
2018-19: 12-5
2015-16: 8-10
2017-18: 7-9
2016-17: 3-12
The Scarlet Knights also earned its highest Big Ten Tournament seed ever.
Year - Seed (Finish)
2017-18: Ninth Seed (Quarterfinals)
2016-17: Fourteen Seed (First Round)
2015-16: Tenth Seed (Quarterfinals)
2014-15: Fifth Seed (Quarterfinals)
STRINGER MILESTONE NUMBERS TO REMEMBER
Rutgers head coach Stringer has compiled a 1017-410 career record in her 48th season of coaching and joined the elite 1,000 career victory club on November 13 in the Scarlet Knight victory over Central Connecticut State.
Stringer is the sixth NCAA women's basketball coach and fifth NCAA Division I women's basketball coach to reach the milestone victory.
In 2013, Stringer became just the seventh coach - men's or women's - to reach the 900-win mark.
With a 60-54 win over Minnesota on Feb. 28, Stringer earned her 36th 20-win seasons to tie former Tennessee head coach Pat Summitt for women's basketball coaches with the most 20-win seasons.
The Naismith and Women's Basketball Hall of Fame Coach is the fifth active winningest Division I coach and sixth all-time in career wins in NCAA women's basketball history.
Stringer is also approaching another milestone. She is three wins away from capturing her 500th victory at Rutgers.
B1G SPEAKING
Among conference peers, Rutgers currently ranks:
Scoring Defense - 1st - 57.3
Steals - 1st - 10.4
Field Goal Pct. Defense - 2nd - .367
Rebounding Defense - 2nd - 32.4
The following Scarlet Knights are ranked among conference peers:
Stasha Carey - 7th - Blocks - 1.5
FREE POINTS
Rutgers has been having on of its best free throw shooting seasons in recent memory.
Top Free Throw Percentages Since 2002-03
2002-03 .762 176-231
2018-19 .731 331-439
2005-06 .714 379-531
2010-11 .713 383-537
2006-07 .703 430-612
2004-05 .700 397-567
D-D-D-DEFENSE
The defense turned up the pressure last season leading the Big Ten in scoring defense holding opponents to just 59.3 points per game.
Twenty-nine of RU's 32 opponents were held under their scoring average.
| Avg. Total Points Entering Game |
Total Points vs. Rutgers |
|
| JMU | 70.2 | 63 |
| Temple | 96.0 | 67 |
| Charlotte | 70.5 | 54 |
| Wake Forest | 71.7 | 51 |
| South Carolina | 88.2 | 78 |
| Washington St. | 69.7 | 64 |
| Siena | 67.3 | 63 |
| NC State | 71.9 | 53 |
| Virginia | 63.2 | 43 |
| Seton Hall | 81.1 | 45 |
| FDU | 63.0 | 35 |
| Princeton | 65.8 | 50 |
| Houston | 73.9 | 57 |
| Purdue | 68.8 | 50 |
| Michigan State | 79.6 | 58 |
| Illinois | 64.8 | 37 |
| Penn State | 70.4 | 65 |
| Purdue | 66.1 | 47 |
| Minnesota | 86.2 | 70 |
| Penn State | 70.1 | 70 |
| Nebraska | 70.9 | 52 |
| Indiana | 68.2 | 64 |
| Maryland | 85.1 | 88 |
| Michigan | 77.1 | 56 |
| Ohio State | 85.7 | 90 |
| Maryland | 84.0 | 72 |
| Wisconsin | 60.9 | 50 |
| Iowa | 79.7 | 77 |
| Northwestern | 62.1 | 63 |
| Purdue (B1G) | 66.3 | 60 |
| Ohio State (B1G) | 85.3 | 82 |
So far in 2018-19, the trend has held steady with 27 of RU's 28 opponents under their scoring average.
| Avg. Total Points Entering Game |
Total Points vs. Rutgers |
|
| St. Francis (Pa) | 80.9 | 52 |
| Stony Brook | 62.6 | 47 |
| CCSU | 62.5 | 44 |
| Albany | 43.7 | 39 |
| Drake | 82.5 | 69 |
| Gonzaga | 68.8 | 57 |
| ETSU | 61.7 | 44 |
| Va. Tech | 78.3 | 67 |
| Harvard | 68.3 | 49 |
| LSU | 63.9 | 43 |
| Northwestern | 71.5 | 41 |
| Maryland | 78.2 | 65 |
| Brown | 76.0 | 52 |
| Penn State | 70.8 | 61 |
| Illinois | 74.1 | 60 |
| Nebraska | 75.9 | 62 |
| Purdue | 67.1 | 63 |
| Michigan State | 80.6 | 62 |
| Iowa | 81.0 | 72 |
| Penn State | 69.3 | 61 |
| Indiana | 71.4 | 64 |
| Minnesota | 68.9 | 60 |
| Maryland | 76.3 | 62 |
| Ohio State | 61.5 | 59 |
| Indiana | 70.2 | 61 |
| Michigan | 72.7 | 86 |
| Wisconsin | 65.3 | 53 |
| Minnesota | 69.5 | 54 |
UP NEXT
Following Sunday's game, Rutgers will enjoy a double bye and begin Big Ten Tournament action in the quarterfinals against either the
No. 6, No. 11 or No. 14 seeds. The full bracket will be determined and released on Sunday.
Follow Rutgers women's basketball at www.ScarletKnights.com and (@RutgersWBB) on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for all of the latest news and updates. For additional updates, download the Rutgers Gameday App.
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