Wednesday, January 3
Piscataway, N.J.
7:00 PM
Rutgers University
vs
Illinois
Photo by: Rich Graessle
No. 25 Women's Basketball Opens New Year Hosting Illinois
Jan 02 | Women's Basketball
Scarlet Knights & Fighting Illini Tipoff on Wednesday at 7 p.m.
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - The No. 25 Rutgers women's basketball opens up 2018 with two games at the RAC this week beginning with Illinois on Wednesday at 7 p.m. The game will be streamed on BTN Plus with Ralph Bednarczyk and Jared Smith on the call.
PROMOTIONS
- Raffle: IFly Indoor Skydiving
- Seniors Eat Free
- Bingo
- Students: Winter Break 4 Friends - Allows for four (4) guests with student tickets
- Halftime: Rutgers All-Girl and Coed Cheerleading Performance
HAPPY NEW YEAR
No. 25 Rutgers opens up the New Year with a pair of home games. First up for the Scarlet Knights is the lone meeting of the 2017-18 season with Illinois.
The Scarlet Knights have won nine in-a-row and are coming off a thrilling 68-51 win on the road at Michigan State, a squad that was just above RU in the receiving votes category of both major polls.
The victory marked the first Big Ten road win for the Scarlet Knights since 63-56 win at Illinois on Feb. 13, 2016.
A late 7-0 Michigan State run gave the Spartans a 58-55 edge with 1:41 to play, but Rutgers scored the next six points. A jumper by senior redshirt guard Tyler Scaife followed by two free throws by the Little Rock, Arkansas native produced the 13th lead change of the game. Redshirt junior forward Stasha Carey went 2-of-4 from the charity stripe to seal the victory while Scaife blocked the potential game-tying 3-pointer on the final possession.
Scaife finished with a game-high 25 points, her seventh-straight 20+ point scoring game. Junior forward Caitlin Jenkins meanwhile grabbed 12 rebounds in the win.
ABOUT ILLINOIS
The Fighting Illini, under the direction of first-year head coach Nancy Fahey, come to the RAC with a 9-7 overall mark and have dropped three straight, including their first two Big Ten contests of the season.
Illinois last picked up a win in a 59-47 decision against Austin Peay but fell, 72-55, to then No. 16 Missouri in the nonconference finale and posted a 100-65 loss at No. 15 Maryland and a 74-59 setback against Northwestern on Sunday.
Junior forward Alex Wittinger leads the Illini at 13.1 points per game along with a team-leading 8.9 rebounds per game. Wittinger is also currently third in the Big Ten in blocks averaging 2.6 rejections per game.
Wittinger is closely followed on the stat sheet by sophomore guard Brandi Beasley at 13.0 points per contest.
STRINGER MILESTONE NUMBERS TO REMEMBER
Rutgers head coach Stringer has compiled a 991-392 career record in 47 seasons and is nine wins away from joining the elite 1,000 career victories club in women's basketball.
SCAIFE MILESTONE NUMBERS TO REMEMBER
Tyler Scaife's game-high 24 points in 23 minutes against Princeton on Dec. 13 propelled the redshirt senior into third place on the Rutgers all-time scoring leader list past former teammate Kahleah Copper (2012-16).
In the next game on Dec. 16, Scaife's steal leading to behind the back bucket that was featured on ESPNW's Top Ten Plays of the Week, pushed her past the 1,900 career point mark.
After adding in 25 points at Michigan State in RU's last contest, Scaife now has 1,956 career points and needs 44 points to become the third Scarlet Knight to collect 2,000 career points and 256 more to move into second place on the all-time list past Cappie Pondexter (2002-2006).
Scaife has scored 345 points this season and kicked off the 2017-18 campaign 10th all-time in scoring.
Scaife is also among the active leading scorers in Division I:
1 Kelsey Mitchell , Ohio St. 2,940
2 Katelynn Flaherty , Michigan 2,361
3 Jasmine Nwajei , Syracuse 2,121
4 Victoria Vivians , Mississippi St. 2,051
5 A'Ja Wilson , South Carolina 1,961
6 Tyler Scaife , Rutgers 1,956
7 Kahlia Lawrence , Mercer 1,937
8 Kolby Morgan , Tulane 1,926
9 Tyra Buss , Indiana 1,904
10 Carlie Wagner , Minnesota 1,868
GETTING THE POINTS
Rutgers is enjoying one of its highest scoring averages under C. Vivian Stringer's 23-year tenure "On the Banks"
Top RU Scoring Averages Under C. Vivian Stringer
1. 70.0 (35 games) 1998-99 – 29-6 – Elite Eight
2. 69.2 (16 games) 2017-18 - 14-2 - Current Season
3t. 68.7 (32 games) 2014-15 - 23-10 - 2nd Round
3t. 68.7 (32 games) 1997-98 – 22-10 – Sweet 16
5. 67.3 (29 games) 2002-03 – 21-8 – 2nd Round
6. 66.2 (37 games) 2013-14 – WNIT Champions
7. 65.6 (31 games) 2000-01 – 23-8 – 2nd Round
PROTECTING HOMECOURT
Since the 2002-03 season, the Scarlet Knights have gone 188-43 (.814) at the RAC.
Rutgers is currently riding an nine-game home win streak. It is RU's longest home win streak since winning nine in-a-row at the RAC between March 1, 2010 and Jan. 22, 2010.
NATIONALLY SPEAKING
As a team, Rutgers appeared in the top 25 in seven categories including leading the nation in total steals (207) and seventh in steals per game (12.9).
Individually, redshirt senior guard Tyler Scaife is leads the nation in field goals made (133), is second in total points (345) and fifth in field goals attempted (272).
B1G SPEAKING
You can find Rutgers leading the Big Ten in 3-point field goal defense (.291) and steals (12.9) and rank second in turnover marging (+6.4).
Among conference peers, redshirt senior guard Tyler Scaife is fifth in scoring (21.6) and fourth in free throw percentage (.855). Redshirt sophomore guard Ciani Cryor is tied for seventh in steals (2.1) and junior forward Caitlin Jenkins is sixth in blocks (1.5).
STREAKING STATS
The Scarlet Knights have a few streaks they are in the midst of,
Rutgers has won nine-straight games dating back to the Big Ten/ACC Challenge with N.C. State on Nov. 30. It is the longest win streak for the Scarlet Knights since ending the season with six-straight wins to capture the 2014 WNIT title and beginning the 2014-15 season with six consecutive victories.
Rutgers is currently riding a nine-game home win streak. It is RU's longest home win streak since winning nine in-a-row at the RAC between March 1, 2010 and Jan. 22, 2010. It's next longest win streak was 20-straight RAC wins between Nov. 16, 2007 and Dec. 29, 2008 The Scarlet Knights opened the 2007-08 season with a home loss against Stanford but would finish the year out with 14-straight home wins. The streak continued into the next season where Rutgers won six-straight at the RAC before a 55-51 loss to Tennessee snapped the streak.
The Scarlet Knights are also tied for eighth nationally on the current active win streak list with fellow Big Ten member Maryland tied for fifth with 11-straight victories.
D-D-D-DEFENSE
The defense has turned up the pressure this season and currently leads the Big Ten in scoring defense holding opponents to just 54.7 points per game. All 15 opponents to date have been held under their scoring average.
Avg. Entering Total Pts.
Team: Game w/ RU: vs. RU:
JMU 70.2 63
Temple 96.0 67
Charlotte 70.5 54
Wake Forest 71.7 51
So. Carolina 88.2 78
Wash, St. 69.7 64
Siena 67.3 63
NC State 71.9 53
Virginia 63.2 43
Seton Hall 81.1 45
FDU 63.0 35
Princeton 65.8 50
Houston 73.9 57
Purdue 68.8 50
Mich. St. 79.6 58
HAPPY HOLIDAYS
Rutgers wrapped up the month of December at 8-0 marking the sixth time in the program's 33-year history the Scarlet Knights not lost a game in the final month of the year.
Year: Dec. Record Final Record
1974-75: 1-0 6-5
1986-87: 7-0 30-3
1990-91: 6-0 23-7
2008-09: 6-0 21-13
2013-14: 5-0 28-9
2017-18: 8-0 ???
HAULING GLASS
Junior forward Caitlin Jenkins has been a monster on the boards for the Scarlet Knights this season. She is not only averaging a team-leading 8.1 rebounds per game, ranking her 12th in the Big Ten, but has registered double digit rebounds in six contests this season.
The Shreveport, Louisiana native has not only hauled in double figure rebounds in three of the last five games, but has averaged 10.2 rebounds in that span.
Most recently, Jenkins grabbed 12 boards in RU's 61-58 win at Michigan State on Dec. 31.
Redshirt junior Stasha Carey has also been a force to be reckon with on the glass grabbing a season-high 15 rebounds in the Dec. 8 victory over Seton Hall.
Prior to the meeting with the Pirates, the Cleveland, Ohio native hauled in nine boards in three-straight games with Siena, Virginia and Seton Hall.
Carey has grabbed eight or more rebounds in seven of the last 10 contests.
UP NEXT
The No. 25 Rutgers women's basketball team is back to the home hardwood hosting Penn State on Saturday, Jan. 6 at 4:30 p.m. The game will air on BTN with Chris Vosters and Christy Winters-Scott on the call and will also be available on the Rutgers IMG Radio Network with Ralph Bednarczyk and Mark Peterson providing the game action.
Follow Rutgers women's basketball at www.ScarletKnights.com and (@RutgersWBB) on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for all of the latest news and updates.
PROMOTIONS
- Raffle: IFly Indoor Skydiving
- Seniors Eat Free
- Bingo
- Students: Winter Break 4 Friends - Allows for four (4) guests with student tickets
- Halftime: Rutgers All-Girl and Coed Cheerleading Performance
HAPPY NEW YEAR
No. 25 Rutgers opens up the New Year with a pair of home games. First up for the Scarlet Knights is the lone meeting of the 2017-18 season with Illinois.
The Scarlet Knights have won nine in-a-row and are coming off a thrilling 68-51 win on the road at Michigan State, a squad that was just above RU in the receiving votes category of both major polls.
The victory marked the first Big Ten road win for the Scarlet Knights since 63-56 win at Illinois on Feb. 13, 2016.
A late 7-0 Michigan State run gave the Spartans a 58-55 edge with 1:41 to play, but Rutgers scored the next six points. A jumper by senior redshirt guard Tyler Scaife followed by two free throws by the Little Rock, Arkansas native produced the 13th lead change of the game. Redshirt junior forward Stasha Carey went 2-of-4 from the charity stripe to seal the victory while Scaife blocked the potential game-tying 3-pointer on the final possession.
Scaife finished with a game-high 25 points, her seventh-straight 20+ point scoring game. Junior forward Caitlin Jenkins meanwhile grabbed 12 rebounds in the win.
NEWS: @RutgersWBB makes a return to the @usatodaysports Coaches Poll. The Scarlet Knights check in this week at No. 25! pic.twitter.com/cOfCjopY10
— Rutgers W.Basketball (@RutgersWBB) January 2, 2018
ABOUT ILLINOIS
The Fighting Illini, under the direction of first-year head coach Nancy Fahey, come to the RAC with a 9-7 overall mark and have dropped three straight, including their first two Big Ten contests of the season.
Illinois last picked up a win in a 59-47 decision against Austin Peay but fell, 72-55, to then No. 16 Missouri in the nonconference finale and posted a 100-65 loss at No. 15 Maryland and a 74-59 setback against Northwestern on Sunday.
Junior forward Alex Wittinger leads the Illini at 13.1 points per game along with a team-leading 8.9 rebounds per game. Wittinger is also currently third in the Big Ten in blocks averaging 2.6 rejections per game.
Wittinger is closely followed on the stat sheet by sophomore guard Brandi Beasley at 13.0 points per contest.
STRINGER MILESTONE NUMBERS TO REMEMBER
Rutgers head coach Stringer has compiled a 991-392 career record in 47 seasons and is nine wins away from joining the elite 1,000 career victories club in women's basketball.
SCAIFE MILESTONE NUMBERS TO REMEMBER
Tyler Scaife's game-high 24 points in 23 minutes against Princeton on Dec. 13 propelled the redshirt senior into third place on the Rutgers all-time scoring leader list past former teammate Kahleah Copper (2012-16).
In the next game on Dec. 16, Scaife's steal leading to behind the back bucket that was featured on ESPNW's Top Ten Plays of the Week, pushed her past the 1,900 career point mark.
After adding in 25 points at Michigan State in RU's last contest, Scaife now has 1,956 career points and needs 44 points to become the third Scarlet Knight to collect 2,000 career points and 256 more to move into second place on the all-time list past Cappie Pondexter (2002-2006).
Scaife has scored 345 points this season and kicked off the 2017-18 campaign 10th all-time in scoring.
Scaife is also among the active leading scorers in Division I:
1 Kelsey Mitchell , Ohio St. 2,940
2 Katelynn Flaherty , Michigan 2,361
3 Jasmine Nwajei , Syracuse 2,121
4 Victoria Vivians , Mississippi St. 2,051
5 A'Ja Wilson , South Carolina 1,961
6 Tyler Scaife , Rutgers 1,956
7 Kahlia Lawrence , Mercer 1,937
8 Kolby Morgan , Tulane 1,926
9 Tyra Buss , Indiana 1,904
10 Carlie Wagner , Minnesota 1,868
GETTING THE POINTS
Rutgers is enjoying one of its highest scoring averages under C. Vivian Stringer's 23-year tenure "On the Banks"
Top RU Scoring Averages Under C. Vivian Stringer
1. 70.0 (35 games) 1998-99 – 29-6 – Elite Eight
2. 69.2 (16 games) 2017-18 - 14-2 - Current Season
3t. 68.7 (32 games) 2014-15 - 23-10 - 2nd Round
3t. 68.7 (32 games) 1997-98 – 22-10 – Sweet 16
5. 67.3 (29 games) 2002-03 – 21-8 – 2nd Round
6. 66.2 (37 games) 2013-14 – WNIT Champions
7. 65.6 (31 games) 2000-01 – 23-8 – 2nd Round
PROTECTING HOMECOURT
Since the 2002-03 season, the Scarlet Knights have gone 188-43 (.814) at the RAC.
Rutgers is currently riding an nine-game home win streak. It is RU's longest home win streak since winning nine in-a-row at the RAC between March 1, 2010 and Jan. 22, 2010.
NATIONALLY SPEAKING
As a team, Rutgers appeared in the top 25 in seven categories including leading the nation in total steals (207) and seventh in steals per game (12.9).
Individually, redshirt senior guard Tyler Scaife is leads the nation in field goals made (133), is second in total points (345) and fifth in field goals attempted (272).
B1G SPEAKING
You can find Rutgers leading the Big Ten in 3-point field goal defense (.291) and steals (12.9) and rank second in turnover marging (+6.4).
Among conference peers, redshirt senior guard Tyler Scaife is fifth in scoring (21.6) and fourth in free throw percentage (.855). Redshirt sophomore guard Ciani Cryor is tied for seventh in steals (2.1) and junior forward Caitlin Jenkins is sixth in blocks (1.5).
STREAKING STATS
The Scarlet Knights have a few streaks they are in the midst of,
Rutgers has won nine-straight games dating back to the Big Ten/ACC Challenge with N.C. State on Nov. 30. It is the longest win streak for the Scarlet Knights since ending the season with six-straight wins to capture the 2014 WNIT title and beginning the 2014-15 season with six consecutive victories.
Rutgers is currently riding a nine-game home win streak. It is RU's longest home win streak since winning nine in-a-row at the RAC between March 1, 2010 and Jan. 22, 2010. It's next longest win streak was 20-straight RAC wins between Nov. 16, 2007 and Dec. 29, 2008 The Scarlet Knights opened the 2007-08 season with a home loss against Stanford but would finish the year out with 14-straight home wins. The streak continued into the next season where Rutgers won six-straight at the RAC before a 55-51 loss to Tennessee snapped the streak.
The Scarlet Knights are also tied for eighth nationally on the current active win streak list with fellow Big Ten member Maryland tied for fifth with 11-straight victories.
D-D-D-DEFENSE
The defense has turned up the pressure this season and currently leads the Big Ten in scoring defense holding opponents to just 54.7 points per game. All 15 opponents to date have been held under their scoring average.
Avg. Entering Total Pts.
Team: Game w/ RU: vs. RU:
JMU 70.2 63
Temple 96.0 67
Charlotte 70.5 54
Wake Forest 71.7 51
So. Carolina 88.2 78
Wash, St. 69.7 64
Siena 67.3 63
NC State 71.9 53
Virginia 63.2 43
Seton Hall 81.1 45
FDU 63.0 35
Princeton 65.8 50
Houston 73.9 57
Purdue 68.8 50
Mich. St. 79.6 58
HAPPY HOLIDAYS
Rutgers wrapped up the month of December at 8-0 marking the sixth time in the program's 33-year history the Scarlet Knights not lost a game in the final month of the year.
Year: Dec. Record Final Record
1974-75: 1-0 6-5
1986-87: 7-0 30-3
1990-91: 6-0 23-7
2008-09: 6-0 21-13
2013-14: 5-0 28-9
2017-18: 8-0 ???
HAULING GLASS
Junior forward Caitlin Jenkins has been a monster on the boards for the Scarlet Knights this season. She is not only averaging a team-leading 8.1 rebounds per game, ranking her 12th in the Big Ten, but has registered double digit rebounds in six contests this season.
The Shreveport, Louisiana native has not only hauled in double figure rebounds in three of the last five games, but has averaged 10.2 rebounds in that span.
Most recently, Jenkins grabbed 12 boards in RU's 61-58 win at Michigan State on Dec. 31.
Redshirt junior Stasha Carey has also been a force to be reckon with on the glass grabbing a season-high 15 rebounds in the Dec. 8 victory over Seton Hall.
Prior to the meeting with the Pirates, the Cleveland, Ohio native hauled in nine boards in three-straight games with Siena, Virginia and Seton Hall.
Carey has grabbed eight or more rebounds in seven of the last 10 contests.
UP NEXT
The No. 25 Rutgers women's basketball team is back to the home hardwood hosting Penn State on Saturday, Jan. 6 at 4:30 p.m. The game will air on BTN with Chris Vosters and Christy Winters-Scott on the call and will also be available on the Rutgers IMG Radio Network with Ralph Bednarczyk and Mark Peterson providing the game action.
Follow Rutgers women's basketball at www.ScarletKnights.com and (@RutgersWBB) on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for all of the latest news and updates.
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