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Ranked win gets Rutgers Women’s Basketball back on track

Tough stretch ahead with two ranked opponents in next five days

By rvc73
Larry Levanti/Rutgers Athletics

Losing five of seven sent the women out of the rankings and into a period of doubt. Certainly fans were wondering what had happened to a team that opened the season 16-2 and the Big Ten schedule 5-1.

But on Sunday, with No. 12/14 Michigan at the RAC, the switch was hit and the lights went on for the Knights. Led by CC Cryor’s 16 points and Stasha Carey’s 12, Rutgers held the Wolverines to 20 points under their season average (and their lowest point total all season) in winning 63-56.

RU improved to an overall record of 18-7, including a 13-1 mark at home and a 6-5 record in Big Ten play. Michigan fell to 19-5 overall and 8-4 in league action.

Game Notes

  • With the win, Rutgers head coach C. Vivian Stringer’s career record improves to 995-366. She is five wins away from 1,000 career victories.
  • Sunday’s win marked RU’s first win over a top 25 opponent since downing No. 19/18 Nebraska on Feb. 5, 2015 in a 46-43 decision.
  • Ciani Cryor tied her season-high with 16 points.(16 points in 70-45 victory over Seton Hall on Dec. 8)
  • With her 10 rebounds, Caitlin Jenkins captured her 10th double-digit rebounding contest of the year. Jenkins entered Sunday’s game 10th in the Big Ten in boards averaging 9.3 rebounds in the last three games and 8.4 rebounds in the last five games.

Rankings

Rutgers did receive a vote in the AP Coaches Poll. Currently, there are three Big Ten schools in the AP Top 25 and Rutgers will face two of them this week.

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Around the Big Ten

Big Ten Women’s Player of the Week: Megan Gustafson, Iowa - F/C – Jr.

  • Averaged 30.5 points, 16.0 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game with a .600 field-goal percentage and two double-doubles last week, helping Iowa to a pair of Big Ten victories
  • Collected 36 points (on 14-of-19 shooting) and 17 rebounds in last Thursday’s win at Michigan State, including two free throws with eight seconds left in regulation to force overtime
  • Tallied 25 points and 15 rebounds in Sunday’s win over Minnesota, setting a school record (men’s or women’s) with her 49th career double-double, topping men’s basketball standout Kevin Kunnert’s mark of 48 from 1971-73

Big Ten Freshman of the Week: Lindsey Pulliam, Northwestern - G

  • Scored a career-high 33 points on 13-of-19 shooting in Northwestern’s overtime loss at Indiana on Sunday
  • Helped the Wildcats rally from a 16-point deficit with five minutes remaining in regulation, scoring 12 points down the stretch to force overtime
  • Continues to lead all Big Ten freshmen in scoring this season at 15.0 ppg.

Coming up for Rutgers....

The women travel to No. 13 Ohio State on Thursday and the host No. 10 Maryland on Sunday at Noon. Sunday’s game, which will air on BTN, has two promotions, one give and one take. Pink T-Shirts will be given to the first 500 fans. It is also the RAH (Rutgers Against Hunger) Food Drive; non-perishables will be collected at the game.

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