2023-24 Women's Basketball Season Preview
Oct 30 | Women's Basketball
PISCATAWAY, N.J. — Heading into the 2023-24 season, the Rutgers women's basketball team is ready to progress by focusing on itself and building on the foundation of last season.
At the start of the 2022-23 campaign, the Scarlet Knights embarked on a new journey with first-year head coach Coquese Washington, who quickly made her mark on the program. Heading into her second season, the third-ever full-time head coach of Rutgers women's basketball is ready for her squad to build on what they accomplished a season ago.
"We're ready to go," Washington said. "We are excited about the start of the season, and are looking forward to building off of what we started last year, and making progress towards our ultimate goals."
The Scarlet Knights will get their regular season underway against 2023 Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) champion Monmouth on Monday, Nov. 6 on its home court at Jersey Mike's Arena. The matchup is just the start of a challenging nonconference schedule for the Scarlet Knights.
Following its opener, Rutgers will take on Wagner (Nov. 9), Auburn (Nov. 12), Seton Hall (Nov. 15), Saint Francis-Pa. (Nov. 18) and Fairfield (Nov. 20). Out of the first six games, all but the Seton Hall matchup will be played at Jersey Mike's Arena. Before the start of an even tough Big Ten schedule, RU will also host 2023 NCAA Final Four contender Virginia Tech (Dec. 17).
"We wanted to give ourselves an opportunity to play in front of our fans," said Washington. "Jersey Mike's (Arena) is one of the toughest, if not the toughest place in the country to play. So, we definitely wanted to give our fans the opportunity to come out and support us. Also, to help ourselves establish our style of play and how we're going to play by playing in the comforts of our arena."
Despite being matched against some tough opponents to open the campaign, the Scarlet Knights are prepared to stay within themselves and make sure that they're improving each day.
"We have some tests early on," Washington said. "One thing this team learned last year was not to get up and down with the wins and the losses, but to really focus on ourselves and our progress. We're not looking for perfection; we're looking for progression. So how do we progress day in and day out to be at a position where we are playing our best basketball in March."
On the theme of progression, Washington understands the importance of improving as a coach each season to ensure she can be a support system for her players.
"The coach has a better understanding of the returning players," Washington added. "What she can expect from them, what things cause them anxiety and stress, and what things put them in a space where they can be at their best. For me, the more that I have a feel for who these young women are, the better I am able to get their best out of them."
The efforts from the bench boss does not go unnoticed by her players.
"Her support is tremendous," said senior center Chyna Cornwell. "Not just talking on the court, but off the court as well. She cares about us as young women. She cares about our mental health, our emotional health, everything. She is like a second mother to all of us."
Cornwell, a 2022-23 Big Ten Honorable Mention, was one of two Scarlet Knights to start in all 32 games a season ago. The center averaged 9.5 points and 8.6 rebounds per game, pacing RU with nine double-doubles throughout the campaign and ranking second in the conference with 105 offensive boards.
Coming into her fourth season with the program, Cornwell is ready to help her team reach new heights and get better both on and off the court.
"Continue to build chemistry, play together, play fast and really be there for each other on and off the court," Cornwell said. "We pick each other up any time that we make a mistake on the court, or just anything, we always pick each other up. We are there for each other, and that is really important as a team. That will only make us stronger in the end."
Along with the team's seven returners, the Scarlet Knights welcomed five newcomers in the offseason, all seeking to make a quick impact: freshmen Jillian Huerter, Lisa Thompson and Kennedy Brandt, along with transfers Destiny Adams and Mya Petticord. Also new are two additions to the coaching staff, assistant coaches Nneka Enemkpali and Jeanine Wasielewski.
With the additions in the offseason, also came a difficult loss, as the Scarlet Knight community mourned the loss of assistant coach Nikki McCray-Penson after her passing on July 7 at the age of 51.
"It was an emotional offseason, no question," Washington said. "One of the things we have tried to embrace is being a team of resilience, and learning how to live with Nikki in a different way. For us, it's not about 'we have to move on and move past it.' It's about learning how to live with her, the things she brought to this program, to this team, to this university, to this athletic department. Someone we love is no longer with us in the same way she was before, so how do we live with her in a different way and keep her memory alive in our lives, our hearts, and our locker room."
Despite all the ups and downs, the Scarlet Knights are ready to get back out on the court for a season of progression, learning and success, and it all starts on Nov. 6.
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