HARTFORD, Conn. - Her statistics won't show it, but her performance was pivotal.
Six points, four rebounds, two assists, two turnovers, two blocks and two steals is hardly anything to hang your hat on. However, without Shalicia Hurns, the Rutgers women's basketball team would not have beaten Notre Dame 51-45 last night at the Hartford Civic Center.
The senior forward shut down All-Big East First Team forward Jacqueline Batteast in the second half, as Hurns held her to six points the entire half. Batteast only took eight shots in the second half, converting just two of them, as well as sinking two free throws.
"I think we focused more on her in the second half," Hurns said of the adjustments RU made. "We just did a better job. We knew she was the heart and soul of their team."
In the first half, however, it was a much different story. RU had no answer for Batteast, as she was a dominant force in the paint. She shot 7-of-15 and poured in 16 of the Fighting Irish's 23 points, while also registering four boards and a block. Batteast single-handedly put her team out in front 23-19 at the break.
However, Rutgers head coach C. Vivian Stringer was not surprised by the way Batteast and Notre Dame's other post players shredded her team's defense.
"We don't match up well with Notre Dame," Stringer said. "Notre Dame was able to put big bodies out there. They have tremendous depth and great talent."
Although Batteast overpowered the Knights as if they were a younger sister early on, Hurns' ability to stop her towards the end of the first half coincided with Rutgers getting back into the game.
The Knights trailed 17-2 at one point, due to Batteast's 11 points right off the bat. Hurns, along with the rest of the Knights, toughened up their defense and then made a concerted effort to shut her down.
"I don't think there was any panic," Hurns said. "The coaches' game plan was real good. We just stuck together as a team."
As the game went back and forth in the second stanza - the score was tied four times, and there were five lead changes - Hurns' defense on Batteast was a constant for the Knights. She played the entire half, making it nearly impossible for Batteast to find any open looks.
Junior guard Cappie Pondexter knew how important it was for Hurns to shutdown Batteast in the second stanza.
"I can't express what Shalicia means to the team," said Pondexter, an All-Big East First Team selection. "She's a big part of the team."
In addition, it was Hurns who played a large role in the play that sealed the game for RU. With about 30 seconds to go in the game, the Knights were only up by two. The Irish threw a long pass up-court looking for an easy bucket. Hurns, however, intercepted the pass and dished it to Pondexter. She promptly put the Knights up 47-43 after the ensuing layup - and for all intents and purposes - ended the game.
"As soon as I saw her throw it, I knew she wouldn't have enough air under it," Hurns said about the play that sent the Knights into tonight's tournament semifinal.
Be the first to comment on this article!