Sunday, February 28
University Park, Pa.
12:30 PM ET
Rutgers University
at
Penn State
Game 16: No. 24 Women's Hoops vs. Penn State
Feb 27 | Women's Basketball
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. & PISCATAWAY, N.J. - No. 25 Rutgers women's basketball (11-3, 7-3) plays two games in three days against Penn State (9-11, 6-10), at the Bryce Jordan Center on Sunday, Feb. 28 at 12:30 p.m. ET and at the RAC on Tuesday, March 2 at 5:30 p.m. ET. Both games will be broadcast live on Big Ten Network. The March 2 game is a makeup from the Jan. 21 postponement.
The Scarlet Knights made their debut in the AP Top 25 Poll at No. 25 this week and are ranked No. 11 in the latest NCAA Evaluation Tool (NET) rankings, a new selection guide for at-large bids to the NCAA Tournament valuing offensive and defensive efficiency alongside results-oriented data. Rutgers has won six consecutive games in the Big Ten by an average margin of 19.3 points, including a road victory at then-No.21/20 Northwestern.
With head coach C. Vivian Stringer's patented defense ranked first in the Big Ten with 55.8 points allowed per game, the offense is producing with historic voracity. The Scarlet Knights recently scored 70 or more points in five consecutive games for the first time in Big Ten play (since 2014), and the first time in any conference since the 1997-98 squad scored 70-plus in seven-straight in the Big East. The defense, meanwhile, is on a current streak of allowing less than 60 points in five-straight for the first time in Big Ten play and the first time overall since 2012-13 in the Big East.
RUTGERS RANKED: Rutgers women's basketball made its debut in the Associated Press Poll on Monday with a No. 25 national ranking. The Scarlet Knights received 50 points to make its way into the Top 25 for the first time since February of 2019, and have now been nationally ranked in three of the last four seasons since 2017-18. Following a five-week hiatus, Rutgers has won six consecutive games in the Big Ten by an average margin of 19.3 points, including a road victory at then-No.21/20 Northwestern.
NET WORKING: Rutgers is listed at No. 11 in the NCAA Evaluation Tool (NET) rankings, which replace RPI as a guide for selecting at-large bids for the NCAA Tournament. The NET rankings take into account Adjusted Net Efficiency (offensive vs. defensive points per possession weighted on quality of opponent) and Team Value Index (results-oriented). Rutgers is ranked third in the NCAA with 113.6 points per offensive possessions, and fifth in the NCAA with a 31.4 average point margin per 100 possessions.
ARELLA RISING: Redshirt senior guard Arella Guirantes (the reigning Metropolitan Area Player of the Week) is on six national watch lists: The Senior CLASS Award, the Wooden Award for Most Outstanding Player, the Naismith Trophy and Wade Trophy for National Player of the Year, a Top 5 finalist for the Meyers Shooting Guard Award, and the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Award.
Only Player to rank Top 5 in Big Ten in these four categories: scoring, assists, blocks & steals
Triple-double on Dec. 23 vs. Manhattan (6th in RU history) with 17 points, 10 rebounds & 11 assists
Three 30+ point performances vs. No. 9 Maryland, Iowa & Purdue
SHINE ON: True freshman Diamond Johnson, the No. 6 overall recruit in the nation according to ESPN, is one of 10 named to the Nancy Lieberman Award Watch List semifinalists for the country's top point guard. The Neumann Goretti product earned Rutgers' first ever Big Ten Freshman of the Week honor on Dec. 21. Johnson has scored in double-figures in all 14 of her games and has scored 18 or more in nine of her last 10.
Ranks 4th in the NCAA with a .500 three-point shooting percentage (40-75).
THOU SHALL STEAL: Rutgers ranks fourth in the country with 13.3 steals per game and is fourth in the nation in turnover margin at 8.0. Four Scarlet Knights make up the Top 8 in the Big Ten in steals per game with Tekia Mack (4th in the nation - 3.5), Arella Guirantes (2.2), Diamond Johnson (2.1) and Mael Gilles (2.0).
THAT'S OFFENSIVE: Rutgers has scored 80 or more points in three Big Ten games this season. Before this year, Rutgers has had a total of three 80+ games since joining the conference in 2014-15. RU had a five-game streak of scoring 70+ in conference games, the first time since 1997-98 in the Big East. RU earlier scored 80+ in five consecutive games for the first time since the 1990-91 season. The Scarlet Knights rank sixth in the nation in scoring margin at +22.4, scoring 78.1 points per game (22nd in the nation, 4th in the B1G).
WELCOME TO THE B1G: Rutgers is one of the youngest teams in the nation with eight newcomers and 71 percent of the roster starting the season with two years experience or less in Division I. RU is one of just 32 teams across the nation with 10 or more players on the roster with two years experience or less.
FUTURE IS NOW: C. Vivian Stringer and her staff have secured the No. 8 nationally ranked recruiting class for 2020 according to ESPN, led by the signing of No. 6 ranked prospect Diamond Johnson out of Neumann Goretti in Philadelphia, one of four recruits ranked in the Top 55 - Sakima Walker (#21), Chyna Cornwell (#48) and Liz Martino (#53). Blue Star Basketball ranks the class No. 5 in the nation.
• At MSU, Rutgers held its fifth Big Ten foe in a row under 60 points. That is the longest streak in league play since the 2012-13 squad did it five times consecutively in the Big East.
• Tekia Mack tied a RAC record with eight steals vs. Minnesota, the most in any Rutgers game since Syessence Davis had 10 at Penn State in Jan. 2015 (the school record), then set a career high with eight assists in the Illinois victory.
• Diamond Johnson has scored 20+ in three-straight for six career 20+ performances.
• Rutgers' win at No. 21/20 Northwestern was its first ranked road win since a 73-65 victory at No. 4 Maryland on Dec. 31, 2018.
• In consecutive games, Tyia Singleton set new career highs in rebounding (11 vs. Nebraska) and point scoring (17 vs. Northwestern).
• Diamond Johnson has made 24 consecutive free throws heading into the PSU game, and has not missed since at Wisconsin on Dec. 11.
• Currently graded .779 from the charity stripe, RU is strongly challenging its single-season free throw percentage record of .734 ('80-81).
• RU has outscored opponents in the paint in 13 of 14 games this season.
• RU is 8-0 with a lead at halftime.
• The Scarlet Knights have outscored opponents by an average of 16.4 in points off turnovers (27.7 - 11.2).
• Arella Guirantes has five career 30+ point games, all against Big Ten opponents.
• RU's 87 points against Maryland were Rutgers' most in a Big Ten game since joining the conference in 2014-15 ... and most in a conference game since 90 vs. Seton Hall in the Big East in 2013.
• Guirantes' 30+point double-double vs. Maryland was Rutgers' first since Kahleah Copper had 30 and 10 against St. Joseph's on Nov. 13, 2015.
• With Diamond Johnson at 18.8 points per game, a look at the Top 5 freshman scoring averages in team history:
Follow Rutgers women's basketball on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
The Scarlet Knights made their debut in the AP Top 25 Poll at No. 25 this week and are ranked No. 11 in the latest NCAA Evaluation Tool (NET) rankings, a new selection guide for at-large bids to the NCAA Tournament valuing offensive and defensive efficiency alongside results-oriented data. Rutgers has won six consecutive games in the Big Ten by an average margin of 19.3 points, including a road victory at then-No.21/20 Northwestern.
With head coach C. Vivian Stringer's patented defense ranked first in the Big Ten with 55.8 points allowed per game, the offense is producing with historic voracity. The Scarlet Knights recently scored 70 or more points in five consecutive games for the first time in Big Ten play (since 2014), and the first time in any conference since the 1997-98 squad scored 70-plus in seven-straight in the Big East. The defense, meanwhile, is on a current streak of allowing less than 60 points in five-straight for the first time in Big Ten play and the first time overall since 2012-13 in the Big East.
| ON THE AIR |
- Watch on Big Ten Network Sunday (Play-by-play: Lisa Byington; Analyst: Christy Winters Scott)
- Watch on Big Ten Network Tuesday (Play-by-play: Lisa Byington; Analyst: Meghan McKeown)
- Listen on WRSU 88.7 FM Sunday (Play-by-play: Doug Willig & Alex Carmenaty)
- Listen on WRSU 88.7 FM Tuesday (Play-by-play: Dylan McCoy & Gideon Fox)
| THE SCOUT |
- The Nittany Lions (9-11, 6-10) head into the Rutgers doubleheader with momentum after the 69-67 upset victory over No. 15 Ohio State on Wednesday. Penn State will now attempt to beat a ranked team in back-to-back games for the first time since 2012 - the first of three-straight Big Ten Championship years.
- Penn State held the Buckeyes, the nation's 10th-best scoring offense, 15.3 points below its season average and kept the Buckeyes without a field goal for the final 4:24.
- Senior transfer Niya Beverley (previously Wisconsin) currently leads the Big Ten and ranks third nationally with a 3.85 assist-to-turnover ratio.
- Makenna Marisa has turned her game up a notch in her sophomore season. She is currently averaging 14.3 ppg, 5.1 rpg and 5.1 apg compared to her freshman year numbers of 9.2 ppg, 4.5 rpg and 2.7 apg.
- Senior transfer Johnasia Cash (previously SMU) has recorded nine double-doubles this season and is averaging 15.3 ppg and 9.5 rpg in Big Ten play.
- Freshman Maddie Burke ranks fourth amongst all Division I freshmen with 50 three-pointers this season.
| HEAD-TO-HEAD |
| KNIGHT NOTES |
NET WORKING: Rutgers is listed at No. 11 in the NCAA Evaluation Tool (NET) rankings, which replace RPI as a guide for selecting at-large bids for the NCAA Tournament. The NET rankings take into account Adjusted Net Efficiency (offensive vs. defensive points per possession weighted on quality of opponent) and Team Value Index (results-oriented). Rutgers is ranked third in the NCAA with 113.6 points per offensive possessions, and fifth in the NCAA with a 31.4 average point margin per 100 possessions.
ARELLA RISING: Redshirt senior guard Arella Guirantes (the reigning Metropolitan Area Player of the Week) is on six national watch lists: The Senior CLASS Award, the Wooden Award for Most Outstanding Player, the Naismith Trophy and Wade Trophy for National Player of the Year, a Top 5 finalist for the Meyers Shooting Guard Award, and the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Award.
Only Player to rank Top 5 in Big Ten in these four categories: scoring, assists, blocks & steals
Triple-double on Dec. 23 vs. Manhattan (6th in RU history) with 17 points, 10 rebounds & 11 assists
Three 30+ point performances vs. No. 9 Maryland, Iowa & Purdue
SHINE ON: True freshman Diamond Johnson, the No. 6 overall recruit in the nation according to ESPN, is one of 10 named to the Nancy Lieberman Award Watch List semifinalists for the country's top point guard. The Neumann Goretti product earned Rutgers' first ever Big Ten Freshman of the Week honor on Dec. 21. Johnson has scored in double-figures in all 14 of her games and has scored 18 or more in nine of her last 10.
Ranks 4th in the NCAA with a .500 three-point shooting percentage (40-75).
THOU SHALL STEAL: Rutgers ranks fourth in the country with 13.3 steals per game and is fourth in the nation in turnover margin at 8.0. Four Scarlet Knights make up the Top 8 in the Big Ten in steals per game with Tekia Mack (4th in the nation - 3.5), Arella Guirantes (2.2), Diamond Johnson (2.1) and Mael Gilles (2.0).
THAT'S OFFENSIVE: Rutgers has scored 80 or more points in three Big Ten games this season. Before this year, Rutgers has had a total of three 80+ games since joining the conference in 2014-15. RU had a five-game streak of scoring 70+ in conference games, the first time since 1997-98 in the Big East. RU earlier scored 80+ in five consecutive games for the first time since the 1990-91 season. The Scarlet Knights rank sixth in the nation in scoring margin at +22.4, scoring 78.1 points per game (22nd in the nation, 4th in the B1G).
WELCOME TO THE B1G: Rutgers is one of the youngest teams in the nation with eight newcomers and 71 percent of the roster starting the season with two years experience or less in Division I. RU is one of just 32 teams across the nation with 10 or more players on the roster with two years experience or less.
FUTURE IS NOW: C. Vivian Stringer and her staff have secured the No. 8 nationally ranked recruiting class for 2020 according to ESPN, led by the signing of No. 6 ranked prospect Diamond Johnson out of Neumann Goretti in Philadelphia, one of four recruits ranked in the Top 55 - Sakima Walker (#21), Chyna Cornwell (#48) and Liz Martino (#53). Blue Star Basketball ranks the class No. 5 in the nation.
| #TRENDING |
• Tekia Mack tied a RAC record with eight steals vs. Minnesota, the most in any Rutgers game since Syessence Davis had 10 at Penn State in Jan. 2015 (the school record), then set a career high with eight assists in the Illinois victory.
• Diamond Johnson has scored 20+ in three-straight for six career 20+ performances.
• Rutgers' win at No. 21/20 Northwestern was its first ranked road win since a 73-65 victory at No. 4 Maryland on Dec. 31, 2018.
• In consecutive games, Tyia Singleton set new career highs in rebounding (11 vs. Nebraska) and point scoring (17 vs. Northwestern).
• Diamond Johnson has made 24 consecutive free throws heading into the PSU game, and has not missed since at Wisconsin on Dec. 11.
• Currently graded .779 from the charity stripe, RU is strongly challenging its single-season free throw percentage record of .734 ('80-81).
• RU has outscored opponents in the paint in 13 of 14 games this season.
• RU is 8-0 with a lead at halftime.
• The Scarlet Knights have outscored opponents by an average of 16.4 in points off turnovers (27.7 - 11.2).
• Arella Guirantes has five career 30+ point games, all against Big Ten opponents.
• RU's 87 points against Maryland were Rutgers' most in a Big Ten game since joining the conference in 2014-15 ... and most in a conference game since 90 vs. Seton Hall in the Big East in 2013.
• Guirantes' 30+point double-double vs. Maryland was Rutgers' first since Kahleah Copper had 30 and 10 against St. Joseph's on Nov. 13, 2015.
• With Diamond Johnson at 18.8 points per game, a look at the Top 5 freshman scoring averages in team history:
- 1. Cappie Pondexter (02-03) - 18.3ppg
- 2. Patti Sikorski (76-77) - 15.8ppg
- T3. Kathy Glutz (76-77) - 15.5ppg
- T3. June Olkowski (78-79) - 15.5ppg
- 5. Sue Wicks (84-85) - 14.9 ppg
Follow Rutgers women's basketball on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
- RU -
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
F/G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
C
/ Women's BasketballWomen’s Basketball Post Game Press Conference - Lafayette
Saturday, December 20
Women’s Basketball Post Game Press Conference - Saint Peter’s
Sunday, November 30
Women's Basketball Postgame Press Conference - Northeastern
Saturday, November 29
Women's Basketball Postgame Press Conference - Siena
Tuesday, November 25
