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The Rutgers women’s basketball team played its toughest competition of the season so far on Sunday afternoon against Harvard. The Crimson came to the RAC with a 3-1 record, already owning a high major win against California and looking for a second one. Harvard jumped out to a 16-8 lead in the first quarter, Rutgers responded with a 24-3 run to assume control. They led by 12 points at the half and cruised to a 74-46 victory to start the season at 4-0 for the third straight year.
Arella Guirantes led the way once again, leading the team in scoring and rebounding with 19 points and 11 rebounds, as well as 3 assists, 2 blocked shots and 1 steal. Jordan Wallace had a great game in the paint, producing a double double of her own with 14 points on 7 of 10 shooting and 10 rebounds. Tekia Mack was the third Scarlet Knight to produce a double double in the game, scoring 10 points and grabbing 10 boards.
Point guard KK Sanders continues to play well after missing last season due to injury, as she scored 14 points on 7 of 10 shooting, as well as 7 assists, 6 steals and 3 rebounds.
As a team, Rutgers shot 46.5% from the floor, despite struggling from behind the arc (3 of 16 for 18.8%). They held Harvard to 27.1% from the field and and forced 20 turnovers, as well as held a +11 rebounding margin. Rutgers dominated inside, holding a 52-16 advantage with points in the paint and also held a 27-6 edge in points off of turnovers.
The victory was head coach C. Vivian Stringer’s 1,023 of her career tying her for fifth place all-time with North Carolina’s Sylvia Hatchell. On her team’s performance, Stringer said “It’s the small things that are going to be important in the biggest games. We did those things well today; in transition, rebounding, sharing the basketball. We’re proud of the things we did, and we’re excited to get better.”
Up next, Rutgers travels to the Bayou to take on LSU (3-1) on Sunday, November 24th at 8 p.m. The Scarlet Knights beat the Tigers 57-43 last season at the RAC and look to pick up it’s first high major victory of the 2019-2020 campaign.