PISCATAWAY, N.J. – The Rutgers women's basketball team (0-0) will face Caldwell (0-0) in an open exhibition game on Sunday, Oct. 27 at 2 p.m.
Admission and parking at Jersey Mike's Arena are both free for all fans. Seating will not be assigned and instead be general admission. In addition, the contest will be streamed on B1G+.
The entire 2024-25 Rutgers women's basketball season is presented by Prudential.
2023-24 Season Recap
The Rutgers women's basketball team continued to grow under head coach Coquese Washington in her second season at the helm.
The team celebrated its 50th season in program history, highlighting historic moments, players and coaches throughout the season, which culminated in a grand celebration on Alumni Weekend. The team also inducted its inaugural Knights of Honor class in the 1982, 2000 and 2007 teams.
The Scarlet Knights earned their sixth advance sellout in program history and first since 2006 against Iowa (Jan. 5), which became the most attended basketball game between men's and women's contests of the entire 2023-24 campaign.
Destiny Adams had a breakout season in her first campaign "On The Banks." The UNC transfer led active players on the team in multiple statistical categories, such as minutes (953), points (500), rebounds (254) and steals (51), while also ranking in the Big Ten. She finished the regular season fifth in total points and sixth in total rebounds and second in offensive rebounds in the Big Ten.
She earned All-Big Ten Second Team (Coaches) honors as well as an Honorable Mention (Media). In addition, Adams set the Big Ten Tournament single game rebounding record with 24 boards in the opening round.
Successful Alumni
Rutgers women's basketball celebrated two of its most distinguished alums during the offseason as Kahleah Copper earned a gold medal in the 2024 Olympic Games with Team USA and Benijah Laney-Hamilton was crowned the 2024 WNBA Champion with the New York Liberty
Copper helped Team USA to its eighth straight gold medal and her first, with a 67-66 win over France on August 11. Copper came up huge off the bench in the gold medal game with 12 points, including 10 in the fourth quarter to help secure the victory.
Laney-Hamilton also made history with the Liberty, bringing the first WNBA Championship to New York. She played a huge role in game two of the series, netting 20 points in addition to two rebounds and two assists to give the Liberty its first victory of the series. In addition, she scored at least two points in the other four games.
Starting Off 1-0
Rutgers has won the opening game in 10 of its last 12 seasons, dating back to the 2012-13 slate. The team only dropped contests to Georgia (57-51) in 2012 and Chattanooga (66-53) in 2016 during the span.
In addition, RU has also won its last seven season openers going back to the 2017-18 campaign. Of those six outings, the team won two by 20+ points and two more by 40+ points.
The Scarlet Knights Against the Top-25
Once again, Rutgers will face a loaded schedule, featuring a tough Big Ten slate. As of Oct. 24 RU has six opponents on its schedule ranked in both the AP and WBCA USA Today poll. IIn addition, six teams are receiving votes between the two polls.
- No. 3/3 USC
- No. 5/6 UCLA
- No. 14/14 Ohio State
- No. 18/18 Maryland
- No. 23/23 Nebraska
- No. 25/24 Indiana
- RV/RV Iowa
- RV/RV Illinois
- RV/RV Princeton
- RV/-- Michigan State
- --/RV Michigan
- --/RV Virginia Tech
Home Sweet Home
The Scarlet Knights will play 11 home games at Jersey Mike's Arena in the first two months of the regular season.
The team kicks off the 2024-25 campaign with four consecutive home games before going on their first road trip to Virginia Tech Tuesday, Nov. 19.
RU will remain home for the next seven of eight contests, including the Battle of the Banks Tournament, in partnership with J5 Inc., from Friday, Nov. 29-30.
Returning to The Banks
RU returns seven Scarlet Knights to the squad in Destiny Adams, Lisa Thompson, Mya Petticord, Antonia Bates, Awa Sidibe, Kennedy Brandt and Chyna Cornwell.
During the 2023-24 campaign, this group combined for 125 games started, 1,267 points and 721 rebounds.
Welcoming the Newcomers
Head coach Coquese Washington added two transfers, a pair of freshmen and one walk-on in the offseason.
Graduate student JoJo Lacey joined the team from Boston College and sophomore Janae Walker from Kentucky.
As a senior, Lacey averaged 8.7 points and 4.4 rebounds per game. She reached 10+ points in nine outings including two games with 20+ and a career-high 23-point performance against North Carolina (Feb. 29).
During her rookie season with the Wildcats, Walker played in 28 games and made one start. She netted a season-high six points and three field goals at No. 18/18 Louisville (Dec. 10), while also grabbing four rebounds three times. Walker led UK in blocks four times during the season.
Rookies Kiyomi McMiller and Zachara Perkins came "On The Banks" over the summer and walk-on junior Deja Young this fall.
A five-star recruit, McMiller was ranked No. 22 in her recruiting class by espnW. She played the last two seasons of her high school career at Life Center Academy in Burlington, New Jersey, averaging 30.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 2.8 steals per game during her senior campaign.
McMiller leaves high school with an impressive resume over a three-year span, scoring 2,015 points, 437 rebounds, 363 assists and 231 steals in 70 games.
During Perkins' 2022-23 season at Summercreek High School in Houston, Texas, she led her team to both an Area and a Bi-District Championship in addition to the Region 3 Finals. A consistent double-double type player, she averaged 18.6 points, 9.8 rebounds and 3.1 blocks per game through her junior season.
Perkins was named to the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches (TABC) All-State and All-Region teams. In addition, she was selected as the Newcomer of the Year and to the All-Academic Team.
Prior to Young arriving "On The Banks" she served as a walk-on for the Hampton women's basketball team from the fall of 2022 to the spring of 2023. During the campaign she helped the Pirates to a total of 12 wins including nine in conference play. At Teaneck high school, she helped guide her team in the first round of the 2021-22 NJSIAA Tournament with a season-high 26 points, five assists and five takeaways. In addition, she also aided her squad in reaching the North Jersey Section 1, Group 3 Quarterfinals.
Staff Additions
In addition to the five newcomers on the court, coach Washington also made some adds on the sideline. Johnetta Hayes was brought on as an assistant coach as well as Will McIntire as the director of Director of Scouting & Technology and Alejandro Ramirez as the interim director of basketball operations.
Hayes spent the last four seasons as the head coach at UMBC. In the 2022-23 season, Hayes led the Retrievers to an 11-win improvement, one of the best in the nation. Hayes also led the team to a 10-6 mark in America East play, their second-best record in program history.
McIntire comes to Piscataway after serving as a student manager and graduate assistant at Iowa over the past four years. Ramirez also served as a student manager with the Scarlet Knights over recent seasons before being promoted to his current role.
Scarlet Knights on the Big Screen
Rutgers will make six appearances on the big screen during the campaign between the Big Ten Network and Fox Sports 1.
- Friday, Nov. 29 vs. Marquette – 2 p.m. (BTN)
- Sunday, Jan. 5 vs. USC – 8 p.m. (BTN)
- Saturday, Jan. 18 at Michigan – 12 p.m. (BTN)
- Thursday, Jan. 23 vs. UCLA – 7 p.m. (FS1)
- Thursday, Feb. 6 at Indiana – 6 p.m. (BTN)
- Monday, Feb. 17 vs. Northwestern – 8 p.m. (BTN)
Scouting the Cougars
Caldwell ended the 2023-24 slate with an 8-19 record including a 4-12 mark in conference play.
Jah'Nel Lewis returns after leading the Cougars last season 16.6 points per game. Lucy Coogan also averaged double-digit points with 15.8 points and led the team with 7.2 rebounds per game.
This will mark the first-ever meeting between the two teams.
Looking Ahead
Rutgers will officially begin the 2024-25 season against Manhattan on Monday, Nov. 4 at 7 p.m. The contest will be streamed on B1G+ as well as available to listen on WRSU.
Follow Along
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