From: “Kim Zivkovich” <kzivkovich@scarletknights.com>
Sent: Thursday, December 18, 2014 3:25:57 PM
Subject: WBB: No. 17/19 Rutgers Women’s Basketball Closes Out Nonconference Play
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Contact: Kimberly Zivkovich (cell: 732-690-6716; email: kzivkovich@scarletknights.com)
Twitter: @RutgersWBB
No. 17/19 Rutgers Women’s Basketball Closes Out Nonconference Play
Scarlet Knights Travel to Iona for Saturday Meeting at 2 p.m.
• The 2014 WNIT Champions close out the nonconference slate with a road trip to Iona. RU will spend its next three games, including opening up Big Ten play, prior to the New Year.
• The Scarlet Knights and Gaels meet each other for the third time in school history. They almost met in the second round of last year’s WNIT Tournament, however Iona fell 90-89 to Harvard on a layup with 0.8 seconds left in first round action
• Sophomore Tyler Scaife was the lone Scarlet Knight in double figures with 22 points in RU’s 55-45 setback to No. 11/13 Tennessee on Sunday.
• Senior Betnijah Laney, who is tied for the nation’s lead with eight double-doubles and ranks sixth nationally at 12.8 rebounds per game, suffered a sprained thumb against the Lady Vols. She finished with just four points and five boards.
• Sunday’s game with the Lady Vols was a low-scoring affair for a Rutgers team that was putting up nearly 80 points a game and a Tennessee squad averaging 85 points per contest.
ABOUT IONA
The Gaels meet the Scarlet Knights with a 4-5 overall record and 1-1 mark in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. Iona has won three of its last four contests, including a 75-67 victory at home over UCF on Thursday night following a one-point, 75-74, double overtime loss to Monmouth on Dec. 7.
Damika Martinez, the MAAC Preseason Player of the Year, is averaging 24.7 points per game along with 6.2 rebounds. Teammate Joy Adams is pouring in 12.2 points along with a team-high 12.7 rebounds per contest. Rounding out the Gael double figure scorers is Marina Lizarazu at 11.6 points per game.
Martinez is the nation’s returning leading scorer having averaged 24.9 points and ranking eighth overall in the country. She was a First Team Preseason All-American by the Sporting News after earning the 2014 MAAC and All-Met Player of the Year awards, along with an AP All-American Honorable Mention recognition. Martinez was also finalist for the Nancy Lieberman Award, given to the nation’s top backcourt player. Her 771 points scored last season were an Iona record and ninth most in the country and she also set an Iona single-season record with 107 three point field goals. She finished third in the country with an average of 3.45 made three-pointers per game. She was one of 11 players in the country to knock down 100 three pointers and her 44.2% three-point field goal percentage was eighth best nationally.
GET BETTER BETNIJAH
Senior forward Betnijah Laney will sit out Saturday’s game with Iona after suffering a sprained thumb on her left hand in RU’s contest with Tennessee on Dec. 14. Laney suffered a bad sprain on the first play of the game on Sunday.
Entering last Sunday’s game with the Lady Vols, Laney had been averaging 16.0 points and 14.8 rebounds, ranking first in the country in double-doubles and third nationally in rebounding.
After suffering the thumb injury moments into Tennessee game, Laney went on to end the contest with four points and five rebounds.
Laney’s hand will be continued to be evaluated throughout the next few days before determining a time table for her return.
TOP 25 OPPONENTS
Rutgers currently stands a 1-2 against the top 25, most recently taking on No. 11/13 Tennessee in a 55-45 loss on Dec. 14.
RU had back-to-back games against the top 25 with a double overtime, 96-93, loss to No. 6 UNC on Dec. 4 in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge and a 64-52 victory at then-No. 25 Arkansas on Dec. 10.
Prior the Dec. 10th win over the Razorbacks, the Scarlet Knights’ last win over a nationally ranked opponent was a 61-58 victory over No. 16/15 Georgia on Dec. 21, 2013 at the RAC.
Additionally before the Arkansas win, Rutgers’ last top 25 win away from the RAC was a 68-62 win over No. 20 Marquette on a neutral court in the Big East Tournament on March 6, 2011. RU’s last road (non-neutral site) victory over a top 25 foe was against the same Golden Eagle team in a 76-55 win over No. 22 Marquette in Milwaukee on February 19, 2011.BASKETBALL
BETTING DOUBLE
Senior forward Betnijah Laney opened 2014-15 with eight straight double-double performances and is the nation’s leader in the category. Her streak was halted at Temple on Dec. 10 with 20 points and five rebounds. She currently has 23 double-doubles in her career.
She is currently tied with Vicky McIntyre of Oral Roberts and Jillian Alleyne of Oregon as the nation’s leader in double-doubles.
The senior forward had an incredible game against #6 UNC on Dec. 4 with a career-tying 24 points and career-high 24 rebounds.
The Clayton, Delaware native captured 15 double-doubles last season, the most double figure scoring and rebounding games since Kia Vaughn, currently with the WNBA’s Washington Mystics, had 12 double-doubles during the 2006-07 season.
ALL ABOARD
Betnijah Laney’s 24 rebounds vs. #6 UNC on Dec. 4 set a Rutgers Athletic Center (RAC) record – men or women. She surpassed the previous record of 21 held by Women’s Basketball Hall of Famer and former WNBA All-Star Sue Wicks set back in 1987 against Penn State.
She was two rebounds shy of tying the Rutgers women’s basketball single game record. Sandy Tupurins grabbed 26 rebounds against William Paterson on Mar. 1, 1977.
Her 24 rebounds also placed her name among the top 15 all-time at RU in rebounding.
Laney’s 24 boards against the Tar Heels is also among the best rebounding performances from around the country this season.
Top `14-15 Single Game WBB Performances
Vicky McIntyre, Oral Roberts – vs. Austin Peay – 27
Joy Adams, Iona – vs. Monmouth – 26
Sherae Bonner, Western Carolina – vs. Livingstone – 26
Brittni Montgomery, UCF – vs. Iona – 24
Betnijah Laney, Rutgers – vs. North Carolina – 24
Temi Fagbenle, Harvard – vs. Temple – 24
Brittany Hodges, Furman – vs. Davidson – 24
Sarah Imovbioh, Virginia – vs. Ohio State – 24
CLEANING THE GLASS
Rutgers has won the battle of the boards in nine of its ten games to date. Only Tennessee has outrebounded the Scarlet Knights this season as the Lady Vols held a 54-42 edge on the glass.
Betnijah Laney, who led RU in rebounding at 8.5 boards per game last season, has not missed a beat and is hauling in 12.8 rebounds per game in 2014-15. She is fourth nationally in both defensive rebounds (9.0) and sixth in the country in total
rebounds per game (13.7).
Laney had 17 double digit rebounding efforts last season.
NO SOPHOMORE SLUMP
Tyler Scaife, last year’s American Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year, has led the Scarlet Knights in scoring in six of the season’s first ten games and is averaging a team-leading 16.8 points per game.
Scaife has reached double figure scoring in 37 of her 47 career appearances
Most recently she netted 22 points in RU’s loss to No. 11/13 Tennessee, marking her fourth 20+ point game of the 2014-15 season and 11th of her career.
Scaife is averaging 20.0 points per game against nationally ranked opponents, which includes a season-high 25 points in the Scarlet Knights’ double overtime contest with No. 6 UNC on Dec. 4.
GETTING TO THE POINTS
Rutgers is enjoying its highest scoring average under C. Vivian Stringer’s 20-year tenure “On the Banks”
Top RU Scoring Averages Under C. Vivian Stringer
1. 74.5 (10 games) 2014-15 – 8-2 – Current Season
2. 70.0 (35 games) 1998-99 – 29-6 – Elite Eight
3. 68.7 (32 games) 1997-98 – 22-10 – Sweet 16
4. 67.3 (29 games) 2002-03 – 21-8 – 2nd Round
5. 66.2 (37 games) 2013-14 – WNIT CHAMPIONS
6. 65. 6 (31 games) 2000-01 – 23-8 – 2nd Round
Four or more Scarlet Knights have reached double figures in a game in eight of RU’s 10 contests to date.
D-D-D-FENSE
Point guard Syessence Davis averaged 2.9 steals per game last season, led the American and was ninth nationally in the category last season.
She recorded eight steals in the 100-44 win over Davidson on Nov. 30, tying for the most steals by a Scarlet Knight since 2005. Former teammate Erica Wheeler also had eight thefts at DePaul on Feb. 12, 2013.
On Dec. 10 at Temple, Davis cracked the RU top 10 list in steals, which features current assist coach Tasha Pointer at the top of the list.
Steals
1. Tasha Pointer (1997-01) – *292
T-2. Sue Wicks (1984-88) – 287
T-2. Liz Hanson (1992-96) – 287
4. Matee Ajavon (2004-08) – 275
5. Denise Kenney (1976-79) – 263
6. Epiphanny Prince (2006-09) – 260
7. Vicky Picott (1987-91) – 257
8. Regina Howard (1983-87) – 216
9. Syessence Davis – 215
T-10. C’ta Mitchelson (1989-93) – 213
T-10. Cappie Pondexter (2002-06) – 213
THEY SHOOT, THEY SCORE
The Scarlet Knights shot 56.1 percent (37-of-66) from the field last Wednesday night against Temple, marking the fourth time this season RU has shot over 50 percent from the floor.
SHARE AND SHARE ALIKE
The Scarlet Knights dished the ball out 27 times last Wednesday at Temple, tying for the most assists in a game this season. RU also had 27 assists in its 100-44 win over Davidson on Nov. 30.
Rutgers currently dished the ball out 17.8 times per game ranking them second in the Big Ten and 17th in the country.
FROM SIXTH WOMAN TO STARTING LINEUP
Briyona Canty, who served as Rutgers’ “sixth woman” a year ago, has a successful start at point guard in nine of the first 10 games for the Scarlet Knights.
Canty captured her second career double-double with 12 points and a new career-high 10 assists in the win over Northeastern on Nov. 18. It was the second straight game the redshirt junior guard had reset her career mark in assists. She performed her first double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds in RU’s WNIT semifinal win at USF.
In the season opener against St. Joseph’s Canty tied her career-high in points (16) and also added a then career-high eight assists. The redshirt junior guard also captured 16 points in the Scarlet Knights’ American Athletic Conference semifinal appearance against eventual national champion, UConn.
Canty set a new career-high in steals with six at Wagner on Nov. 25. She surpassed her previous-high of four last recorded at Bowling Green in the WNIT on March 31, 2014.
Most recently at Temple on Dec. 10, the redshirt junior guard had nine points, eight rebounds, five assists and five steals.
20/20 VISION
Three times this season, a pair of Scarlet Knights have dropped in 20 or more points in a game.
Most recently, Betnijah Laney and Kahleah Copper both netted 20 points each in the 88-55 win at Temple on Dec. 10.
RU also had a pair of Scarlet Knights reach the 20-point mark in the Dec. 4 match-up with No. 6 UNC as Betnijah Laney scored a career-tying 24 points and Tyler Scaife captured a season-high 25 points.
Additionally in the 81-53 win at Wagner on Nov. 25. Laney had 22 points, while Copper contributed 20 points in the victory.
WNIT MVP Kahleah Copper reached the 20+ point milestone 11 times last season, the most since Brittany Ray did so seven times in 2009-10.
This season, Tyler Scaife leads the Scarlet Knights with the most 20+ point games with four, closely followed by Betnijah Laney with three 20+ point efforts.
MORE THAN SCORING
While Tyler Scaife finished with 20 points as the lone Scarlet Knight in double figures against Tennessee on Dec. 14, the sophomore guard nearly captured her first double-double with a career-high nine boards.
Additionally, Scaife tied her career-high with three rejections and added four assists and two steals.
BLOCK PARTY
Rachel Hollivay swatted away five Hawk shots in RU’s season opener and then again in the Scarlet Knights’ first road game at LSU.
Hollivay has registered 27 games with three or more blocks, including rejecting three Lady Vol shots in RU’s last contest.
She currently has 172 career blocks and needs six more blocks to move into fifth all-time on RU’s career blocked shots list.
Hollivay ended last year with 127 rejections and is third (men or women) in blocks in a single season. Only Hamady Ndiaye (2009-10) and Roy Hinson (1982-83) on the men’s side have blocked more shots in a single season, swatting away 145 and 144, respectively.
Blocked Shots
1. Sue Wicks (1984-88) – 293
2. Kia Vaughn (2005-09) – 279
3. LaTonya Johnson (1988-92) – 248
4. Tanya Hansen (1988-92) – 245
5. Monique Oliver (2009-13) – 177
6. Rachel Hollivay (2012-present) – 172
7. Tammy Sutton-Brown (1997-01) – 148
8. Rashidat Junaid (2006-10) – 136
9. Regina Kalucki (1991-95) – 128
10. Chelsey Lee (2008-13) – 109
LIVING IN THE PAINT
Rutgers continues to dominate the paint just like they did last season.
RU is averaging 35.8 points in the paint through its first 10 games of 2014-15, which included a season-high 50 in the Nov. 25 win at Wagner. It was the Scarlet Knights highest total inside since netting 52 paint points in last year’s win over the Seahawks on Dec. 13, 2013, as well as against UCF on Feb. 15, 2014.
Only No. 6 UNC has outscored the Scarlet Knights in the paint as the Tar Heels had a 44-32 advantage on Dec. 4.
Rutgers and No. 11/13 Tennessee both came away with 22 points each in their match-up on Dec. 14. It was RU’s fewest paint points of the season.
PAINT POINTS
St. Joseph’s – 34
Northeastern – 36
at LSU – 38
at Wagner – 50
Colgate – 34
Davidson – 46
UNC – 32
at Arkansas – 30
at Temple – 36
Tennessee – 22
RU scored 30 or more points in the paint in 27 of its 37 games last season. Rutgers registered 40 or more points inside seven times during the 2013-14 campaign, including a season-high of 52 against Wagner (Dec. 13) and UCF (Feb. 15).
400-WIN CLUB
Head coach C. Vivian Stringer won her 400th career victory “On The Banks” at Houston on Feb. 11, 2014. Stringer needs 18 more wins to surpass Women’s Basketball Hall of Famer Theresa Grentz as RU’s all-time winningest women’s basketball coach.
All-Time Rutgers WBB Coaching Records (By Wins)
Theresa Grentz – 434-150/ (1977-95) 19 seasons
C. Vivian Stringer – 417-207/(1995-present) 20 seasons
Ellen Johns – 6-5/(1974-75) One season
Dottie McCrea – 5-9/(1975-76) One season
TURNOVERS
Scarlet Knight opponents are averaging 20.0 miscues per game.
Only Arkansas on Dec. 7, has managed to record single digit turnovers.
RU tied its season-low in turnovers with 11 at Temple. Meanwhile, the Owls turned the ball over 21 times leading to 27 points for the Scarlet Knights. In the season opener, RU committed just 11 turnovers while St. Joseph’s had 21 miscues leading to 24 points for Rutgers.
RU turned over the ball 12 times on Nov. 28 against Colgate, including only four turnovers in the first half.
OPPONENT TURNOVERS
St. Joseph’s – 21
Northeastern – 22
at LSU – 21
at Wagner – 25
Colgate – 18
Davidson – 29
UNC – 21
at Arkansas – 9
at Temple – 21
Tennessee – 13
UP NEXT
The B1G moment is here. The Rutgers women’s basketball team travels to Indiana to meet the Hoosiers on Sunday, Dec. 28 for its first ever Big Ten Conference contest.
Follow Rutgers women’s basketball on Facebook (www.facebook.com/RutgersWBB), Twitter (www.twitter.com/RutgersWBB) and Instagram (www.instagram.com/RutgersWBB) for all of the latest news and updates. Fans also receive timely information, including special offers and giveaways throughout the year on both social media outlets along with www.ScarletKnights.com.
-RU-