PISCATAWAY, N.J. – A historic offensive streak not seen in 30 years "On the Banks," powered by teamwork and consistency, received a Christmas bow on Wednesday afternoon at the RAC with Arella Guirantes recording a rare triple-double in an 84-41 victory over Manhattan.
 
It was just the third triple-double in program history, and the first since Khadijah Rushdan's in February 2011. Guirantes' triple-double is just the fifth across the country this season. Meanwhile, the Scarlet Knights offense recorded 80 or more points in a fourth consecutive game for the first time since the 1990-91 season.

"It was truly a special day," said head coach C. Vivian Stringer. "We are proud of a consistent team-first effort and contributions from everyone. Arella has set out to be the best, and again proved that she is the best today with a complete game, making the extra pass and being a true, veteran leader. We're going to let our players go home for Christmas and enjoy family, and we'll be ready to go to Iowa and ready for the rest of the Big Ten."



Guirantes, the reigning espnW National Player of the Week and Big Ten Player of the Week, exited the game at the end of the second quarter with an apparent injury before checking back in a minute into the third quarter. The Bellport, N.Y. native netted 12 of her 17 points in the second half after shaking off the brush up on the court, getting a career-high 11 assists in the process and grabbing a rebound with 49 seconds left in the game to cement a historic stat line of 17 points, 10 rebounds and 11 helpers.
 
Holding true to a familiar strategy during this three-game win streak, RU took control early with a 16-0 run midway through the first quarter. They did their early damage from long range, starting 4-of-9 from three, led by Diamond Johnson's 3-of-4 opening from distance. The RU defense caused a 6:43 scoring drought by the Jaspers in the opening 10 minutes, a cold spell from which the visitors could not recover.
 
Another team victory took shape as four players ended in double-figures for the fifth consecutive game. Freshman Diamond Johnson led all scorers on Wednesday with 23, a young career-high and the second game in a row with more than 20 points. The rookie from Philadelphia connected on 5-of-8 from three-point range in the victory.
 
Junior Zipporah Broughton matched her career-high with 19 points to go with five assists. Mael Gilles added 12 points on 5-of-9 shooting with seven rebounds.
 
The Scarlet Knights hop back into Big Ten play on Thursday, Dec. 31 at Iowa at 3 p.m. ET.
 

.@Arella_Karinnn saw @CaitlinClark22's triple-double yesterday & said BET. 😎

17 points ✅
10 rebounds ✅
11 assists ✅

Arella Guirantes is the first @RutgersWBB player since 2011 to record a triple-double - just the 3rd in program history. pic.twitter.com/YGiv4i3Yuk

— Rutgers On BTN (@RutgersOnBTN) December 23, 2020

NOTES

• Arella Guirantes' triple-double is just the third in program history, joining Khadijah Rushdan's 13-point, 10-rebound, 10-assist performance against Pittsburgh on Feb. 8, 2011 and Tasha Pointer's 18 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists against Georgetown on Feb. 27, 2001.
• This marks the first time Rutgers women's basketball has scored 80 or more points in four consecutive games since the 1990-91 squad scored 80-plus in five straight wins in January of a 23-7 campaign.
• Leading the country in steals at 16.4 per game before Wednesday, RU maintained that national lead with 16 against Manhattan.
• All five starters had at least two steals, led by Arella Guirantes and Mael Gilles grabbing four apiece.
• Diamond Johnson has scored in double-figures in all six of her collegiate games and has eclipsed 20 in two-straight.
• Arella Guirantes has 1,430 career points, the 15^th most of any player in history to wear the Scarlet Knights uniform. She has scored 1,142 of those at Rutgers.
• Rutgers has boasted four or more players in double-figures in five consecutive games.
• Before the game, Rutgers ranked seventh in the nation with a +32.6 average margin of victory before today's 43-point win.
• Rutgers improves to 44-8 (.846) at the RAC since the start of the 2017-18 season.
• Rutgers improves to 3-0 all-time against Manhattan. They last met in 1983.
• C. Vivian Stringer rolled out the Starting 5 of Zipporah Broughton, Diamond Johnson, Arella Guirantes, Mael Gilles and Tyia Singleton for the third consecutive game.

 
 
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