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RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY
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Contact: Kimberly Zivkovich (cell: 732-690-6716; email: kzivkovich@scarletknights.com)
Twitter: @RutgersWBB
Rutgers Women’s Basketball Faces UMass Wednesday Night
Scarlet Knights and Minutewomen Tip at 7 p.m.
PISCATAWAY, N.J. (November 19, 2013) ? The Rutgers women’s basketball team is back on the road as they travel to UMass for a 7 p.m. tip on Wednesday night.
TIP OFF
? Wednesday’s contest will air on WCTC 1450 AM with Ed Cohen and Danny Breslauer on the call. Additionally, RU’s student station ? WRSU 88.7 FM ? will also air all Wednesday night’s action with David Servedio and Dylan MacKinnon.
? Rutgers enters Sunday’s game at 3-0 and is victorious in its only other road game of the year thus far, a 65-51 win at Northeastern last Wednesday afternoon.
? The Scarlet Knights improved to 2-0 at the RAC on Sunday afternoon with a two-point, 59-57, victory over La Salle.
? Junior center Christa Evans got the starting nod in place of Rachel Hollivay, who sat due to a concussion suffered in the previous game. Evans’ first points of the game and first point of the season came on the game winning lay-up with .5 seconds remaining in Sunday’s games off a feed from classmate Syessence Davis.
? Junior forward Betnijah Laney hauled in double digit rebounding for the third straight game with 12 boards against La Salle. It was one rebound off her career mark. She is currently averaging 18.0 points and 11.7 rebounds per game.
? Kahleah Copper, a member of this week’s AAC Honor Roll, leads RU at 18.0 points along with 6.7 rebounds. She had a team-high 12 points in last Sunday’s game with La Salle.
SCOUTING UMASS
The Minutewomen are still looking for their first win of the 2013-14 season after starting the campaign at 0-3. UMass fell to Western Michigan, 66-58, to open the season and followed with another home loss in a 105-61 defeat at the hands of Central Michigan. The Minutewomen are coming off an 82-59 road loss at American on Sunday.
The squad has two in double figures led by sophomore guard Nola Henry at 11.0 points per game and junior guard Emily Mital at 10.0 points per game. Henry is also added in 3.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game. On the boards, UMass is led by redshirt senior Kiara Bomben at 6.7 rebounds per game.
The Minutewomen were picked 12th in the Atlantic-10 Preseason Poll They finished last season at 3-26 overall and 1-13 in the Atlantic-10.
ALL-TIME SERIES WITH UMASS
Rutgers is 25-2 all-time against UMass, with its last victory coming by a 78-57 margin on the road on Dec. 10, 2000.
The Scarlet Knights won the first 23 meetings between the two schools from Jan. 25, 1978 ? March 8, 1994 before losing to UMass twice in 1995, their final season as Atlantic-10 rivals.
SEASON OPENING NUMBERS
Rutgers improved to 3-0 for first time since the 2011-12 with Sunday’s 59-57 win over La Salle.
It is the sixth 3-0 start for head coach C. Vivian Stringer in her 19 years at Rutgers and 17th overall for the program.
In 2011-12, RU opened with eight straight victories. With a victory over the Minutewomen it would the 13th in Rutgers history the Scarlet Knights have opened the season with four straight wins.
PROTECTING HOME COURT
The Scarlet Knights have had an outstanding track record of success at home during the previous 10 seasons under head coach C. Vivian Stringer. Rutgers is 137-21 at the RAC since the 2002-03 season. The Scarlet Knights went 13-2 at the RAC last season, including a victory over No. 21/22 Miami.
IN THE POLLS
While not in the Top 25, the Scarlet Knights have been receiving votes the last three weeks in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll. RU also picked up a vote this week in the Associated Press Poll.
HARD WORK GETS RECOGNIZED
Sophomore forward Kahleah Copper was named to the American Athletic Conference Honor Roll it was announced on Monday. It is the second straight week the Scarlet Knights have been represented on the AAC Honor Roll.
Copper averaged 19.0 points and 7.0 rebounds in helping Rutgers improve to 3-0 on the season in victories at Northeastern and versus La Salle last week.
At Northeastern last Wednesday, Copper garnered her first career double-double with a career-high 26 points and career-high 11 rebounds. The sophomore Scarlet Knight shot 11-of-16 from the field and added a block and a steal in the 65-51 win. On Sunday against LaSalle, Copper led RU with 12 points before fouling out. Against the Explorers, Copper shot 4-of-8 from the field and added three boards.
On the season, she is averaging a team-leading 18.0 points per game along with 6.7 rebounds per contest.
DOUBLE YOUR PLEASURE
Rutgers had two players with double-doubles in Betnijah Laney and Kahleah Copper in last Wednesday’s win over Northeastern.
It was the first time since Dec. 5, 2011 at Miami that RU has had two Scarlet Knights finish in double digits in both points and rebounds. Against the Hurricanes, Monique Oliver had 23 points and 19 rebounds while April Sykes had 19 points 10 rebounds.
Kahleah Copper collected her first career double-double with 26 points and 11 rebounds. It was the second straight game she led the Scarlet Knight in scoring and fourth time in her career she has been RU’s leading scorer. She is currently averaging 21.0 points per game.
Betnijah Laney registered her second consecutive double-double with 15 points and 13 rebounds. It was the third double-double of her career.
Laney was looking for her third straight double-double on Sunday against the Explorers. While she had 12 rebounds, including 11 in first half action, she had just three points before exiting the game with a sprained ankle. Should she have notched a third straight double-double, Laney would have been the first Scarlet Knight since Chelsey Lee in 2011 to perform back-to-back-to-back double-doubles.
Six Scarlet Knights Net Double Figures in Rutgers Women’s Basketball Season Opening Win
Scarlet Knights Defeat In-State Rival Princeton, 79-65
PISCATAWAY, N.J. (November 10, 2013) ? The Rutgers women’s basketball team kicked of the 2013-14 season with six Scarlet Knights netting double figures in a 79-65 victory over in-state rival Princeton on Sunday afternoon at the RAC.
Sophomore forward Kahleah Copper (Philadelphia, Pa.) led the way with 16 points followed by junior forward Betnijah Laney (Clayton, Del.) with her second career double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Both sophomore Rachel Hollivay (Columbus, Miss.) and freshman guard Tyler Scaife (Little Rock, Ark.), in her RU debut, recorded 13 points each. Junior guard Syessence Davis (Neptune, N.J.) collected 11 points and redshirt sophomore Briyona Canty (Willingboro, N.J.), in her return from last season’s knee surgery, added 10 points.
RU never trailed in the contest and held a 20-10 lead with 6:44 in the first half. Princeton, however, managed to erase the Scarlet Knights’ double figure advantage closing to within one in the waning moments of the opening stanza. The Tigers outscored the Scarlet Knights, 15-6, capped by a free throw by Amanda Berntsen to pull within one, 26-25, on their last possession of the half. However, it would be the closest the Tigers would get the rest of the way.
Copper, who had 12 first half points, gave RU a 28-25 halftime edge at the buzzer.
Rutgers led by two, 34-32, with 17:33 left in the game but went on to hold the Tigers to one field goal over the next four minutes and return to a double digit advantage. Canty, on a fast break layup, put the Scarlet Knights ahead 45-35 at the 13:41 mark.
From there, the Scarlet Knights extended their lead by 16-points, 53-37, with 11:39 remaining, but the Tigers closed to within single digits off a Nicole Hung layup 53-44.that capped a 7-0 Princeton run.
RU followed with Canty feeding Scaife for a jumper and the Scarlet Knights would lead by double figures the rest of the afternoon.
Laney gave Rutgers its largest lead of the game, 74-53, with just under four minutes remaining.
Rutgers committed only three turnovers in the second half and registered 10 of its 15 assists in second half play.
The Tigers were led by Blake Dietrick with 20 points and Alex Wheatly with 14 points and 10 rebounds.
The Rutgers women’s basketball team returns to action on Wednesday, Nov. 13 at noon at Northeastern.
GAME NOTES
· RU improved to 16-2 in the all-time series with the Tigers. The Scarlet Knights avenged last season’s 71-55 setback at Jadwin Gym.
· Rutgers improved to 27-13 all-time in season openers and 10-9 in openers under head coach C. Vivian Stringer. Additionally, the Scarlet Knights improved to 34-6 in the first home game of the season, including a 15-4 record under Stringer.
· .Head coach C. Vivian Stringer picked up her 902nd career victory.
· The Scarlet Knights upped their mark to 136-21 at the RAC since the 2002-03 season.
· It was the first time since Jan. 10, 2012 against Pittsburgh the Scarlet Knights had five or more players in double figures.
· Kahleah Copper reached double figures for the fourth time in her career. She set a new-career mark with 16 points. Her previous career-high was 14 vs. Providence on 1-16-13.
· Briyona Canty tied her career-high with 10 points. She also logged 10 points at Pittsburgh on 1-10-12. It was Canty’s 10th career start.
· Rachel Hollivay reached double figures for the third time in her career. It was her fifth career start.
· Betnijah Laney captured her second career double-double, reaching double figures for the 19th time in her career. She tied her career mark with 10 boards having also reached that mark against St. John’s on 2-23-13 and Florida on 12-02-11. It was Laney’s 40th career start.
· Betnijah Laney led RU in scoring for the sixth time in her career and led the Scarlet Knights in rebounding for the 11th time in her career.
· Syessence Davis dished out six assists, the 11th time in her career she has handed out five or more assists in a game.
· Tyler Scaife’s 13 points debut was the best scoring performance in a Scarlet Knight debut since Betnijah Laney’s 18 point debut against California in 2011.
· Also making RU debuts on Sunday were redshirt junior Alexis Burke, who played eight minutes, and freshman Alex Alfano, who played four minutes.
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Rutgers Women’s Basketball Opens 2013-14 Season With Princeton
Scarlet Knights and Tigers Tip-Off at 2 p.m. at RAC on Sunday
PISCATAWAY, N.J. (November 8, 2013) ? The 2013-14 Rutgers women’s basketball season gets underway on Sunday, Nov. 10 with Princeton at the RAC at 2 p.m.
TIP OFF
? Sunday’s game kicks off the 2013-14 campaign and is the first of 15 home games at the RAC this season.
? Fans in attendance can take home a free 2013-14 team schedule poster.
? Sunday’s contest will air on WCTC 1450 AM with Ed Cohen and Danny Breslauer on the call. Additionally, RU’s student station ? WRSU 89.1 FM ? will also air all Sunday’s action.
? Head coach C. Vivian Stringer begins her 19th season "on the banks" and 43rd season overall.
? The Scarlet Knights are coming off a 16-14 record from a year ago, which included a 13-2 mark at home.
? RU returns eight letterwinners and two starters ? Betnijah Laney and Syessence Davis - from last season along with a trio of newcomers.
? Rutgers begins its first and only season in the American Athletic Association. The Scarlet Knights join the Big Ten next season.
SCOUTING PRINCETON
The Princeton Tigers have won the last four straight Ivy League titles and have been picked to win a fifth according the to the Ivy League Preseason Media Poll.
Princeton finished last season at 22-7 overall and 13-1 in the Ivy. In the NCAA Tournament, the Tigers fell 60-44 to Florida State in the first round. Their lone league blemish was a 58-55 setback at Harvard on March 1, 2013, a game which saw an 11-game win streak halted for the Tigers.
The Tigers lost three student-athletes to graduation ? including two-time Ivy League Player of the Year Niveen Rasheed ? but return 11 letterwinners to the hardwood. Among the returnees are All-Ivy senior Kristen Helmstetter and junior point guard Blake Dietrick. Helmstetter averaged 8.8 points and 5.1 rebounds last season and started in 24 of Princeton’s 29 game slate. Dietrick, meanwhile, poured in 8.0 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game.
Princeton is led by Courtney Banghart in her seventh season on the sidelines.
ALL-TIME SERIES WITH PRINCETON
Sunday marks the 18th meeting between the Jersey rivals with the Scarlet Knights holding a 15-2 series lead. RU had won the last 14 consecutive meetings with the Tigers prior to last season’s 71-55 loss at Jadwin Gymnasium. It was the Scarlet Knights first loss to Princeton since 1976.
LAST TIME VS. PRINCETON
The Rutgers women’s basketball team had its three-game win streak come to a halt with a 71-55 loss at Princeton last November 29th at Jadwin Gym. The Tigers led wire-to-wire opening the game with a 7-4 lead and never looked back.
The Scarlet Knights trailed by as many as 19 in the first half as the Tigers led 30-11 with just under six minutes left until the half. Former Scarlet Knight Monique Oliver followed by muscling her way to the basket on back-to-back trips down the court and Betnijah Laney got her hands on the ball for a steal leading to an open lay-up for Erica Wheeler for a small 6-0 RU run to cut their deficit to 13. However, Rutgers went into the locker room trailing Princeton, 38-22.
The Tigers extended their lead to 25, 51-26, with 13:33 left in the game. Rutgers pulled to within 12 late in the game thanks in part to 10 Tigers turnovers leading to nine Scarlet Knight points.
RU was led by Oliver with 12 points and six rebounds. She also swatted away a trio of Tiger shots to take over fifth place on the Rutgers all-time blocks leaders list. Wheeler added in nine points and a season-high five steals.
Princeton’s Alex Wheatley came off the bench to lead all scorers with 17 points. Preseason Ivy League Player of the Year Niveen Rasheed has 15 in the win and Kristen Helmstetter was the third Tiger in double digits with 14 points.
SEASON OPENING NUMBERS
Rutgers is 26-13 all-time in season openers and 9-9 in openers under head coach C. Vivian Stringer. RU is 33-6 all-time in its first home game of the season, including a 14-4 mark under C. Vivian Stringer.
WELCOME TO THE CLUB
Head coach C. Vivian Stringer became the third Division I coach to reach the 900-career win milestone during the 2012-13 season along with UNC’s Sylvia Hatchell on the women’s side and Syracuse’s Jim Boehiem on the men’s side in a 68-56 win over USF on Feb. 16, 2013.
Other Division I coaches who have reached the 900-career victory mark include Tennessee’s Pat Summit, Texas’ Jody Conradt along with Mike Krzyzewski and Bob Knight in men’s hoops.
PROTECTING HOME COURT
The Scarlet Knights have had an outstanding track record of success at home during the previous 10 seasons under head coach C. Vivian Stringer. Rutgers is 135-21 at the RAC since the 2002-03 season. The Scarlet Knights went 13-2 at the RAC last season, including a victory over #21/22 Miami.
AND YOUTH SHALL LEAD YOU
On the 2012-13 season, first- and second-year Scarlet Knights accounted for 65.0% of the playing time on the season.
Of the five sophomores on last year’s roster, RU was led by Betnijah Laney who averaged a team-third best 9.7 points and a team-leading 5.0 rebounds per game. She stepped up in BIG EAST action where she averaged 11.8 points and 5.4 rebounds per game.
Of last year’s freshman class, Kahleah Copper, who was named to the All-BIG EAST Freshman Team, led the RU rookies in points (5.1), rebounds (3.5), and minutes (16.5). Additionally, she garnered five starts.
The Scarlet Knights boast no seniors on the 2012-13 roster.
WELCOME TO RU
Three newcomers are featured on the 2013-14 roster.
Alexis Burke
F, Jr.-R, 5-11, Bainbridge, Ga./Bainbridge (transfer from Illinois ? sat out 12-13 season)
Burke appeared in 61 games during her two seasons at the University of Illinois. The 5-11 forward played in all 30 games and earned a career-best 12 starts last season. She averaged 6.9 points and 2.9 rebounds in 17.9 minutes per game. Burke also collected 12 assists, 12 blocks and 18 steals on the year. She had a breakout game against Clemson, setting a career-high with 26 points in only 20 minutes of action in a 61-50 Illinois win. Burke received the team’s Most Improved Award following her sophomore campaign. She was ranked No. 50 nationally and the 11th-best small forward by ESPNU HoopGurlz, following her scholastic career at Bainbridge High School. She was named Georgia Class 4A Player of the Year, first team All-State and Region Player of the Year, leading her squad to a 25-4 record as a senior.
Tyler Scaife
G, Fr., 5-9, Little Rock, Ark./Hall
Two-time Arkansas Girls Basketball Player of the Year, Scaife enters her freshman year at Rutgers this fall ranked as the top overall point guard in the nation and ninth-rated recruit overall by ESPNU HoopGulrz. Scaife was also selected to tryout for the U19 USA Basketball U19 Championship Team. She was named the MVP of the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBAC) High School All-America Game and also participated in the McDonald’s All-American Girls’ Game. The 5-9 guard led the Hall High School Warriors to a 30-2 record and the Class 6A state championship as a senior this past year. Averaging 23.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 3.1 steals per game. A four-time all-state selection, she was named MVP of the state title game. As a junior, Scaife averaged 25.2 points, 5.9 rebounds, 5.2 assists, and 3.7 steals per game as she helped her Warriors to a 23-6 record and the Class 7A semifinals as a junior.
Alex Alfano
G, Fr., 5-8, Atlantic Highlands, N.J./Red Bank Catholic
Alfano averaged 10.4 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game for head coach Joe Montano at Red Bank Catholic. She helped her teams to four Shore Conference Division championships and was selected to play in the Shore Conference All-Star Game. As a senior, she helped the Caseys to a 29-2 overall record, the Non-Public-A State Championship and semifinal round of the Tournament of Champions. Among her scholastic accolades, Alfano was named Honorable Mention All-New Jersey by MSG Varsity, a Central All-Division honoree and earned Non-Public A honors. She also garnered MVP of the Hoop Group Boardwalk Classic. Alfano also lettered as a freshman and sophomore as a member of the Red Bank Catholic cross country team.
AMERICAN PRESEASON POLL
The Rutgers women’s basketball team was picked fourth in the American Athletic Conference (AAC) Preseason Poll, announced at the conference’s media day at Mohegan Sun, site of this year’s conference championship.
1. Connecticut (9) 81
2. Louisville (1) 73
3. USF 59
4. Rutgers 57
5. SMU 50
6. Memphis 32
7. Cincinnati 30
8. UCF 28
9. Temple 25
10. Houston 15
PRESEASON HONORS
She hasn’t played in the Rutgers uniform yet, but freshman point guard Tyler Scaife has already picked up a pretty big honor. The freshman was named the American Athletic Conference’s Preseason Freshman of the Year.
LANEY HONORED
Betnijah Laney, RU’s returning leading scorer and rebounder, was a Preseason Honorable Mention All-AAC selection.
Laney earned weekly conference honors last she when she was named to the BIG EAST honor roll on Feb. 4 last season after helping the Rutgers women’s basketball team to a 2-0 mark with wins at Marquette (72-54) and against Villanova (58-50) in overtime by averaging 13.5 points and 5.0 rebounds in the two contests. In the win at Marquette, Laney poured in 15 points and shot 5-of-6 from the free throw line. In the overtime win vs. Villanova, Laney scored eight of her 12 points in overtime helping RU overcome an eight-point second half deficit to pull out the win over the Wildcats. Laney scored the first six points in overtime as Rutgers outscored Villanova, 12-4, in the extra stanza and held the Wildcats without a field goal
FIGHTING THE INJURY BUG
The Scarlet Knights lost the services of guard Briyona Canty to knee surgery at the end of December, but is a full go for the upcoming 2012-13 campaign. Canty was hindered by the knee injury in her seven appearances before being sidelined. However, after spending the winter and summer rehabbing, the Scarlet Knight is ready to return. As a freshman she showed flashes of what she can bring to the court with 2.9 points and 3.4 rebounds along with 31 steals. In her brief sophomore season, Canty averaged 1.1 points and 1.3 rebounds per appearance.
HELPING HAND
Syessence Davis’s 10 assists against Providence on Jan. 16, 2013 set a career and season high for the junior. It also marks the most assists by a Scarlet Knight since Khadijah Rushdan notched 10 against Pitt Feb. 8, 2011.
FROM OFF THE BENCH AND INTO THE STARTING FIVE
Freshman guard Kahleah Copper was a member on the starting line-up four times last season, including three of the last five contests of the year.
During her third foray into the RU starting line-up on Jan. 16 against Providence, Copper ended the game with a career-high 14 points going a perfect 6-of-6 from the floor and 4-of-4 from the line.
Copper made her RAC debut on Nov. 14 with 10 points and six rebounds in Rutgers’ 56-52 win over George Washington.
She was the first member of last year’s freshman class to be among the starting five, making her first career start at Princeton on Nov. 29. Copper was also among the starters in RU’s final nonconference contest against La Salle on Jan. 2.
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Scarlet Knights Open Up About the 2013-14 Season at Annual Media Day
PISCATAWAY, N.J. (October 24, 2013) ? The members of the Rutgers women's basketball team met the media on Thursday at the RAC to talk about the upcoming 2013-14 campaign.
With a young team and a squad bitten by the injury bug last season, the 2013-14 edition of the Rutgers women's basketball is ready to return to the spotlight. Led by Hall of Fame coach and a recent member of the 900-victory club, head coach C. Vivian Stringer returns eight letterwinners to the court and adds the nation's top point guard along with a three-point threat and a junior transfer that will be eligible to lead the Scarlet Knights in their first and only season in the American Athletic Conference.
Of the five sophomores on last year's roster, RU was led by forward Betnijah Laney (Clayton, Del.), who averaged a team-third best 9.7 points and a team-leading 5.0 rebounds per game staring in all 30 games with 29 starts. She stepped up in BIG EAST action where she averaged 11.8 points and 5.4 rebounds per game.
Also up front is forward/center Christa Evans (Jackson, N.J.), who was named RU's Most Improved Player at the year-end banquet. Evans played a critical roll when former Scarlet Knights Monique Oliver and Chelsey Lee were sidelined with injuries last season. She appeared in all 30 games and garnered 10 starts en route to averaging 2.1 points and 2.6 points per game. Evans shot at a 50.9 percent clip from the field and swatted away a team second-best 22 shots.
In the backcourt, Rutgers welcomes back guards Syessence Davis (Neptune, N.J.) and Briyona Canty (Willingboro, N.J.). Davis filled the point guard role after Canty had season-ending knee surgery. Davis averaged 3.0 points and 3.2 rebounds per game, but more importantly dished out a team-leading 90 assists. The Neptune, N.J. native dished out a career-high 10 assists against Providence last year making it the most assists by a Scarlet Knight since 2011. Davis was also a defensive stalwart generating 52 steals. Canty was hindered by a knee injury and only made seven appearances before being sidelined. However, after spending the winter and summer rehabbing, the Scarlet Knight is ready to return. As a freshman she showed flashes of what she can bring to the court with 2.9 points and 3.4 rebounds along with 31 steals. In her brief sophomore season, Canty averaged 1.1 points and 1.3 rebounds per appearance.
Joining the group of juniors is Illinois transfer Alexis Burke (Bainbridge, Ga.). Burke appeared in 61 games during her two seasons with the Fighting Illini. The 5-11 forward played in all 30 games and earned a career-best 12 starts during the 2011-12 campaign averaging 6.9 points and 2.9 rebounds in 17.9 minutes per game.
Of last season's newcomers, Kahleah Copper (Philadelphia, Pa.), who was named to the All-BIG EAST Freshman Team, led the RU rookies in points (5.1), rebounds (3.5) and minutes (16.5). Additionally, she garnered five starts. Copper had four double-digit scoring games, including 10 points against George Washington in her RAC debut and a career-high 14 points against Providence.
Precious Person (Jonesboro, Ga.) also gave RU valuable minutes in her first season as a Scarlet Knight. Person averaged 2.0 points per game and hopes to showcase her tremendous speed up and down the court even more as a sophomore.
Rachel Hollivay (Columbus, Miss.), who is poised to have a breakout season, also showed glimpses of what her future as a Scarlet Knight will be. Hollivay's role on the floor grew as the season progressed and made five starts. She ended her rookie campaign at 5.0 points and 2.2 rebounds per game.
Also up front is classmate Ariel Butts (Columbus, Ga.). Butts appeared in 19 games and averaged 1.5 points and 1.9 rebounds per game. However she showed her rebounding prowess with a season-high seven boards in RU wins over LIU-Brooklyn and Louisiana Tech.
Adding to a long-line of Scarlet Knight floor generals is two-time Gatorade Arkansas Girls Basketball Player of the Year and the Preseason AAC Freshman of the Year, Tyler Scaife (Little Rock, Ark.). The 5-9 guard enters her freshman year at Rutgers this fall ranked as the top overall point guard in the nation and ninth-rated recruit overall by ESPNU HoopGulrz. Scaife was named the MVP of the WBCA High School All-America Game and also participated in the McDonald's All-American Girls' Game. Scaife led the Hall High School Warriors to a 30-2 record and the Class 6A state championship as a senior averaging 23.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 3.1 steals per game. A four-time all-state selection, she was named MVP of the state title game.
Providing RU with a three-point threat is freshman Alex Alfano (Atlantic Highlands, N.J.) from Red Bank Catholic. Alfano averaged 10.4 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game and helped her teams to four Shore Conference Division titles. As a senior, she helped the Caseys to a 29-2 overall record, the Non-Public-A State Championship and semifinal round of the Tournament of Champions. Among her scholastic accolades, Alfano was named Honorable Mention All-New Jersey by MSG Varsity, a Central All-Division honoree, earned Non-Public A honors championships and was selected to play in the Shore Conference All-Star Game.
The 2013-14 season kicks off on Nov. 10 with in-state rival Princeton at the RAC.
Rutgers Women's Basketball 2013 Media Day Quotes
Redshirt junior forward Alexis Burke
On transferring to Rutgers
"It's been a smooth experience. My coaches and my teammates have been there for me every step of the way and any question I had they were there to answer. I can say it's probably been one of the smoothest processes I've been through."
On playing at the RAC for the first time
"I'm very excited. Last year was a great year being able to practice with the team, and this summer getting to practice with them some more knowing that I would be able to play this year. It's a great environment on and off the court so I'm very excited to be in game-like situations with this team."
Junior guard Syessence Davis
On excitement entering season
"I'm most excited about playing. I just want to play and make Coach Stringer happy. I want to win as many games as possible and go as far as possible."
On having a healthy team entering a new year
"It's very important because we're all relying on each other. To accomplish our goals, we all need to be together as a team and be as one. If everyone is healthy we can all do what we need to do."
Junior forward/center Christa Evans
On excitement entering season
"I'm just excited to play. I'm ready to get back out onto the court with my teammates. We've been working so hard in the offseason just getting better. To be able to go out there and play again, it's going to be a great experience."
On frontcourt relationship
"I think we have really good chemistry and we're just building off of last year. We know how each other plays, we know where to look for each other when we're in the post and we're just building. I'm really excited to play because everyone is coming back."
Junior guard/forward Betnijah Laney
On areas of excitement entering the season
"I'm just excited about going out there and playing and showing everybody what we're capable of. A lot of people have lost confidence in us so just going out there and restoring that confidence is key."
On opening season in front of home crowd
"As you know we lost to Princeton last year so hopefully we can come out this year and win. Especially since we lost and it's our first game at home."
On offseason improvements
"I worked a lot on just trying to maintain my focus and not be so anxious."
Redshirt sophomore guard Briyona Canty
On recovering in the offseason
"There has been a lot a lot of rehab. I've just really been strengthening my knee and the muscles around it. Basically I've also working on my jump shot and playing a lot over the summer so my knee gets used to playing and things like that."
On health entering season
"I feel great. It comes with bad days and good days, but my bad days are nothing like last year. I feel great and I'm ready for the season to start."
On significance of the season-opener against Princeton
"My thoughts are just to play as hard as I can and that the team plays as hard as it can together."
Sophomore forward/center Ariel Butts
On her feelings entering the season
"It's my sophomore year, so I know the system. Last year was just tough, making the transition from high school to college. I'm really excited about just getting started and my team is ready and hype so we should be pretty good."
On team's youth
"I just feel like every year we're going to continue to get better. I'm really excited about our youth."
On offseason improvements
"I got in better shape than last season. This year Coach Stringer is putting that on me, saying 'if you're going to play, you're going to be in shape.' Learning the defense and offense better also helped me improve."
Sophomore guard Kahleah Copper
On looking ahead to the season-opener against Princeton on Nov. 10
"It's a new team and I've got great feelings about this season. I'm just excited."
On the strengths of the team
"We're extremely quick but more importantly we pay attention to the little things that make the bigger difference. That will help us get the job done."
Sophomore forward Rachel Hollivay
On entering her second season "On the Banks"
"I'm very excited. I know that we've gotten better as a team and I'm looking forward to it."
On improving in the offseason
"Scoring-wise I feel like I've improved. I've also gotten better on defense and feel like I'm going to bring a lot to the table on both ends."
On team's youth
"We're young, but we have more experience. Even the freshmen that are here, they're getting all the support from us. We all know what we're doing and know what we have to do."
On playing for Coach Stringer
"It's amazing. Every day she just seems to amaze me. She knows the game so well and what she is teaching me is making me a better player than I thought I could be."
Sophomore guard Precious Person
On excitement entering season
"I'm excited. It's definitely been a humbling experience playing for Coach Stringer and this year I feel like it's going to be a bright year for us. I'm excited."
On team's growth from last season
"Everybody has their hurdles to jump over. We've grown tremendously from last year. We're young, but we definitely don't take that as an excuse. We've got fight and Coach Stringer is going to be proud of us this year."
Freshman guard Alex Alfano
On level of excitement entering first season at Rutgers
"Everything leading up to the season has been working with the team and working in practice so this definitely gets you hyped up. I'm getting excited for the season."
On playing for Coach Stringer
"It's honestly been a great experience so far. Everything she says I pretty much just take in and it's made me realize how much of a difference the small things make. She knows here stuff, there's no doubt about it."
On team's strengths entering the season
"I feel that there is a really strong connection when we're on the floor together. Everyone is always talking to each other and coming in as a freshman, they've made sure I fit right in with them. There is definitely that bond on the floor and that will probably get us far this season."
Freshman guard Tyler Scaife
On playing at the RAC for the first time
"I'm looking forward to it. There is a great atmosphere here and I'm looking forward to getting the win."
On being named Preseason American Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year
"It means a lot to me but it kind of puts a target on my back. I know that I have to stay on top of my game and continue to work hard and have a good season."
On the team's strengths entering season
"Our chemistry ? I think we have very good chemistry together. I also think we're very athletic. Those two things together are very good. We shoot the ball well too. It should be interesting to see how we play."
From: [/B]"Kim Zivkovich"
Sent: [/B]Monday, November 24, 2014 1:45:20 PM
Subject: [/B]WBB: Betnijah Laney Named to B1G Honor Roll
RUTGERS ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS
RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY
High Point Solutions Stadium – West Gate Press Box • 1 Scarlet Knight Way • Piscataway, NJ • 08854-8053
P: 732-445-7028 • F: 732-445-3063 • www.scarletknights.com • @RUAthletics
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Kimberly Zivkovich (cell: 732-690-6716; email: kzivkovich@scarletknights.com)
Twitter: @RutgersWBB
Betnijah Laney Named to B1G Honor Roll
Scarlet Knights Move Up to No. 21 in Associated Press Poll
PISCATAWAY, N.J. (November 24, 2014) – Senior forward Betnijah Laney (Clayton, Del.) was named to the Big Ten Women’s Basketball Honor Roll, it was announced on Monday by the conference office. Additionally, RU moved up one position in the Associated Press Poll to No. 21.
Laney averaged 12.0 points and 14.5 rebounds in Rutgers' 2-0 week with wins over Northeastern and LSU. She has registered a double-double in all three Scarlet Knight games to date and has 18 double-doubles in her career.
Against Northeastern in a 74-60 win, Laney was one of five Scarlet Knights in double figures and one of two players with a double-double. She shot 54.5 percent (6-of-11) from the floor for 14 points along with 13 rebounds.
In RU's first road game of the season, Laney had 10 points along with a career-high 16 rebounds in a 64-57 victory at LSU. Her 16 rebounds against the Tigers set a new career mark surpassing her previous career-high of 15 against Houston on Jan. 4, 2014. That was
also the last time a Scarlet Knight had 15 or more rebounds in a game.
On the year, Laney is averaging 11.3 points and 14.0 rebounds per game.
Moving up one position to No. 21 in the AP Poll, the Rutgers women’s basketball team returns to action on Tuesday night at Wagner at 7 p.m. The Scarlet Knights were ranked No. 24 in last week’s ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll. The new coaches’ poll will be released on Tuesday.
Follow Rutgers women’s basketball on Facebook (www.ScarletKnights.com.
-RU-
This post was edited on 11/25 12:43 AM by dawrestling
Smyrna Betnijah Lamey at Rutgers
