:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/45440830/usa-today-7793996.0.jpg)
You could say that this was a reactionary victory for C. Vivian Stringer after last week's loss to Maryland at the RAC. Rutgers beat Wisconsin earlier today 73-63 with the Cynthia Hernandez and Syessence Davis shooting a combined 6-8 from three-point range.
RU is not a three-point shooting team, and that shows in the numbers as the Knights are dead last in the B1G in terms of three-point field goals made. This season, Stringer's team has usually settled for high-percentage mid-range jumpers, and it's a strategy that's led to success. However, against the Terps, Rutgers fell into an early hole, and the inability to transition to a three-point game prevented Rutgers from mounting a successful comeback.
Today, three-point specialist Cynthia Hernandez was unleashed. She was the leading scorer for both teams, and that's as a bench player. Her season-high of 17 points came on a white-hot 5-6 shooting from beyond the arc, and it gives Rutgers an added dimension that could be crucial in March.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Welcome Kahleah Copper to the 1,000 point club! <a href="http://t.co/f7mZkTSoWa">http://t.co/f7mZkTSoWa</a></p>— RU Women's Hoops (@RutgersWBB) <a href="https://twitter.com/RutgersWBB/status/556924893087145985">January 18, 2015</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The other big story of the day was Kahleah Copper joining the 1,000 point club for Rutgers. She hit a free throw at the 8:07 mark in the second to become the 35th Knight to achieve such an honor. She's the second to reach that mark this season alone, as Betnijah Laney scored her 1,000th point against North Carolina on December 4th. Speaking of Laney, she netted her 12th double-double of the season in the win with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Overall, Rutgers had a very balanced attack as five Knights scored in double figures. Guard Tyler Scaife had 10 and center Rachel Hollivay scored 11 off the bench.
Rutgers improves to 13-5 overall and 4-3 in Big Ten play, good for a tie for sixth in the standings. Up next: the Knights get a week off until they host #23 Minnesota on Sunday, January 25 @ 5:15 PM on Big Ten Network.