Rutgers women's basketball continues out-of-conference schedule with games against Seton Hall, Saint Francis
The Rutgers women’s basketball team will begin its second week of play in the 2023-2024 season with games against in-state rival Seton Hall on the road this Wednesday and another home matchup with Saint Francis this Saturday.
The Scarlet Knights (2-1, 0-0) were victorious in their first two games of the season, defeating Monmouth 56-51 and dismantling Wagner by a score of 86-43. On Sunday, though, Rutgers suffered its first loss of the season at the hands of SEC opponent Auburn by a 20-point deficit.
Sophomore point guard Kaylene Smikle is the Knights leading scorer with 44 total points and a 20-point performance last Thursday against the Seahawks (0-2, 0-0).
Senior center Chyna Cornwell, junior guard and forward Destiny Adams and sophomore guard Mya Petticord all follow close behind in scoring with 36, 34 and 31 points, respectively. Cornwell and Adams both have two double-doubles so far.
Adams, who transferred from UNC this offseason, is happy to be back in her home state. She said one of the best parts of playing on the Banks is the culture.
“I think it’s also being here,” Adams said after the Knights’ opening night win. “Starting fresh (with) a whole new culture, playing with more freedom, playing like myself. I’m glad I made the decision to come home.”
After the first three games, head coach Coquese Washington likes her team’s toughness and tenacity.
“I like the fact that we’re aggressive on the boards," Washington said of her first week impressions. "I like the pace that we’re playing with. Early on in the season, sometimes when you play with that pace, you’re gonna get some turnovers before things start to gel, especially with so many newcomers.”
As the season goes on, Washington and her squad will keep working on their chemistry and ball security. The out-of-conference schedule will continue with games against the Pirates (2-1, 0-0) and the Red Flash (0-3, 0-0).
Seton Hall is coming off of a 72-61 loss to Columbia. The Pirates won the two games prior, scoring 79 and 75 points respectively. Micah Gray leads Seton Hall with 46 points and 10 three-pointers through its first three games.
Rutgers will need to monitor Azana Baines and A’Jah Davis on the boards as they both have totaled 17 rebounds this season for the Pirates.
Washington says that Seton Hall is a very well-coached, athletic team with guards that will attack in transition.
“They’re really a team that’s a sum of their parts,” Washington said of the Pirates. “They all play together, and they play with a lot of confidence in one another.”
Saint Francis has lost by at least 11 points in each of its opening tilts and does not seem to be too intimidating for the Knights. Kaitlyn Maxwell leads the Red Flash with 31 points on the season.
“One thing about them this year is they’re a young team,” Washington said when speaking about Saint Francis. “They’re still kind of trying to find their way early in the season, but they’ve got some pretty decent athletes, and it’s only a matter of time before they kind of put it together.”
Rutgers is set to tip off with Seton Hall at 7 p.m. this Wednesday at Walsh Gymnasium in South Orange. Then, the Knights will return to Jersey Mike’s Arena on Livingston campus for a noon tip-off with the Red Flash this Saturday.
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