The Rutgers women's basketball (12-2, 2-1) head west for another Big 10 Conference game, tonight against Illinois. The Illini sit at 9-5, 0-3, and will be a formidable challenge despite their conference record, as Illinois' 3 conference losses have been to three of the best teams in the Conference (Indiana, Iowa, Northwestern). Tonight's game will be streamed on BTN plus and FloHoops.
The Scarlet Knights have won seven of their past eight games following a 59-53 win Sunday at Purdue. Arella Guirantes shot 8-of-13, including 4-of-4 behind the arc, to register a game-high 22 points while pacing four Scarlet Knights in double figures. Rutgers was 10-of-11 at the charity stripe, including a perfect 6-of-6 with less than :30 seconds remaining, to secure its second Big Ten road win in as many attempts this season. Rutgers is tied for second place in the Big10 along with six other teams with a 2-1 record.
Rutgers big gun continues to be Redshirt Jr. guard Arella Guirantes, who leads the Big Ten in scoring at 19.8 points per game (18th nationally). She is also the team's leading rebounder at 7.2 per game and paces the team in bloccks (1.15), minutes (35.23) and free throw percentage (77.4). She has been honored by the Big Ten in five weekly honors this season. Guirantes was named to the Big Ten Honor Roll and as a Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association Honorable Mention with averages of 18.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 20 total free throws during a 2-0 week for the Scarlet Knights Dec. 2-9. Guirantes is a two-time Big Ten Women's Basketball Player of the Week and three-time B1G Honor Roll listee this season.
Besides Guirantes, Rutgers success this season, as in past seasons, comes from it's stifling '55' Defense, which challenges the opposition with relentless, full court pressure, nearly the entire game. Of late, Foul shooting has been a big strength for the Scarlet Knights, RU has made 32 of its last 35 free throws. In close games, the difference is often which squad does better at the foul line. Arella Guiarantes alone has hit 25 straight Free throws !!!
Rutgers leads the all-time series against the Illini 5-1. In the last meeting, Rutgers won 71-60 on Jan. 9. 2019. The Scarlet Knights have won two straight, and are 2-1 all-time in Champaign.
Rutgers sits in 27th place in this weeks AP rankings.
After tonight, Rutgers returns home to host Nebraska (12-2, 2-1) on Sunday, Jan. 12 at 2 p.m. It will be Father-Daughter Day and Letterwinners Day.
The Scarlet Knights have won seven of their past eight games following a 59-53 win Sunday at Purdue. Arella Guirantes shot 8-of-13, including 4-of-4 behind the arc, to register a game-high 22 points while pacing four Scarlet Knights in double figures. Rutgers was 10-of-11 at the charity stripe, including a perfect 6-of-6 with less than :30 seconds remaining, to secure its second Big Ten road win in as many attempts this season. Rutgers is tied for second place in the Big10 along with six other teams with a 2-1 record.
Rutgers big gun continues to be Redshirt Jr. guard Arella Guirantes, who leads the Big Ten in scoring at 19.8 points per game (18th nationally). She is also the team's leading rebounder at 7.2 per game and paces the team in bloccks (1.15), minutes (35.23) and free throw percentage (77.4). She has been honored by the Big Ten in five weekly honors this season. Guirantes was named to the Big Ten Honor Roll and as a Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association Honorable Mention with averages of 18.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 20 total free throws during a 2-0 week for the Scarlet Knights Dec. 2-9. Guirantes is a two-time Big Ten Women's Basketball Player of the Week and three-time B1G Honor Roll listee this season.
Besides Guirantes, Rutgers success this season, as in past seasons, comes from it's stifling '55' Defense, which challenges the opposition with relentless, full court pressure, nearly the entire game. Of late, Foul shooting has been a big strength for the Scarlet Knights, RU has made 32 of its last 35 free throws. In close games, the difference is often which squad does better at the foul line. Arella Guiarantes alone has hit 25 straight Free throws !!!
Rutgers leads the all-time series against the Illini 5-1. In the last meeting, Rutgers won 71-60 on Jan. 9. 2019. The Scarlet Knights have won two straight, and are 2-1 all-time in Champaign.
Rutgers sits in 27th place in this weeks AP rankings.
After tonight, Rutgers returns home to host Nebraska (12-2, 2-1) on Sunday, Jan. 12 at 2 p.m. It will be Father-Daughter Day and Letterwinners Day.
