The Scarlet Knights are red hot. Rutgers won its sixth straight Big Ten game and its second straight over the Michigan Wolverines, 57-50. With the win, RU is sits alone in third place in the B1G standings and 2.5 games behind from the first-place Maryland Terrapins, whom Rutgers will face this Tuesday.
Rutgers defense led the way once again, holding the Michigan to a dreadful 26.2% shooting percentage for the game as well as 12% from three-point range (3-25). Betnijah Laney led all Knights with 17 points and notched her 16th double-double of the season by grabbing 10 rebounds. Kahleah Copper scored 16 points of her own, while Tyler Scaife struggled once again, scoring six points on 3-11 shooting. Scaife also had five turnovers to complete an off night overall.
Michigan actually started the game on a 9-2 run, pushing Rutgers to the edge. Betnijah Laney hit a huge three-pointer to give momentum back to the Knights, starting a seven-point run to tie the game. Once Rutgers held the lead, the game was a close affair until the final whistle but the Wolverines could never establish themselves. Rutgers' largest lead came at the 12:48 mark in the second half, and the Knights would maintain the lead for the win.
The Knights are now 10-1 on the road this season with road games against Michigan State and Northwestern remaining. In fact, aside from the Terps, Rutgers will not face a team higher than seventh in the B1G standings for the remainder of the season.
Up next: Rutgers travels to College Park to take on the #5 Maryland Terrapins at the Xfinity Center on Tuesday, February 10 at 9 PM on BTN.