Kaylene Smikle Tabbed All-MET Third Team
Apr 25 | Women's Basketball
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers women's basketball guard Kaylene Smikle has been named to the All-Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association Third Team following her historic freshman season.
She is the fourth player in program history to earn All-MET Third Team honors and the second consecutive as Osh Brown earned the honor in 2022.
𝘼𝙡𝙡-𝙈𝙀𝙏 𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙧𝙙 𝙏𝙚𝙖𝙢 🏆
— Rutgers W.Basketball (@RutgersWBB) April 25, 2023
Following a historic freshman season, Kaylene Smikle becomes the fourth Scarlet Knight in program history to earn All-MET Third Team honors!
📰: https://t.co/lLGnT3Kvew#GoRU | #RUWBB pic.twitter.com/XjIzX1RYeV
Smikle was named to the 2022-23 All-Big Ten Second Team as well as All-Freshman Team, making her just the second player in program history to earn both awards in the same season. She was also a three-time Big Ten Freshman of the Week, the most in program history.
Smikle led Rutgers and freshman in the Big Ten with 17.9 points per game in addition to averaging 19.5 points in conference play.
With 14 points against Michigan (Feb. 23) Smikle became the third Scarlet Knight in program history to pass the 500-point milestone. Then, with a three to start off the second quarter against Northwestern in the Big Ten Tournament (March 1), Smikle became the all-time leading freshman in program history, ending her first year with 573 points.
She was the only Scarlet Knight to net 20+ points in a game this season and accomplished the feat 15, including 12 Big Ten outings, to pace all freshmen in the league:
- 22 points vs. South Dakota State (Nov. 20)
- 23 points vs. Cornell (Nov. 27)
- 21 points vs. Ohio State (Dec. 4)
- 22 points at Illinois (Dec. 7)
- 26 points vs. Princeton (Dec. 15)
- 29 points vs. Maryland (Jan. 2)
- 20 points vs. Nebraska (Jan. 7)
- 20 points at Minnesota (Jan. 12)
- 21 points at Maryland (Jan. 15)
- 27 points at Michigan State (Jan. 22)
- 25 points at Indiana (Jan. 29)
- 28 points at Iowa (Feb. 12)
- 21 points vs. Northwestern (Feb. 12)
- 26 points vs. Northwestern (March 1) *Big Ten Tournament
- 22 points vs. Illinois (March 2) *Big Ten Tournament
The rookie reached double-digit scoring in 27 of 32 outings during the 2022-23 campaign including the 19 of the final 20 games.
The 6-foot guard recorded multiple career highs against Maryland (Jan. 2), netting 29 points and grabbing nine rebounds. She also set career bests with five assists against New Orleans (Dec. 18), three blocks versus Hampton (Dec. 10) and five steals against Northwestern (Feb. 15).
The Farmingdale, New York product was also solid from beyond the arc. Her 56 three-pointers paced the Scarlet Knights while her five three's against South Dakota State set the standard as the highest single game performance of the season. She has hit at least one three in all but two outings during the campaign.
Smikle was a threat on defense as well, leading RU with 69 steals to rank fourth in the Big Ten and first among freshmen. She secured 3+ takeaways on 13 occasions and 5+ grabs three times. The guard led Rutgers in the statistic 16 times this slate.
Season tickets for the 2023-24 Rutgers women's basketball season are currently on sale and can be purchased or renewed HERE.
