 "Photo: John Bolognini/Photograpy Editor")
Coming into this Sunday's game, the Rutgers women's basketball team has reeled off four consecutive wins by an average victory margin of nearly 11 points, with each contest looking even more impressive than the previous.
The last contest proved to be a showcase of a defensive clinic put on by the Scarlet Knights, ultimately ending in a 16-point shellacking of the Syracuse Orangewomen.
It finally appears as if Rutgers is back on track and seems to be coming together at just the right time. With only eight games remaining in the regular season, and having lost some tough games earlier, each game now is a crucial one.
This Sunday's 2 p.m. match-up against Boston College will not only be a pivotal game for the Knights to see if they can continue their winning streak - which is never easy for this team to do on the road - but will also be a chance for them to show how they stack up against one of the better teams in the Big East.
"We have our work cut out for us," Rutgers head coach C. Vivian Stringer said. "This is a crucial stretch for us and every game is a must-win."
Rutgers will enter the competition sporting a 13-7 record, and are the healthiest that they have been the entire season. The Knights will be led by their dynamic duo of junior guards - Cappie Pondexter and Chelsea Newton. The two standouts will enter the game averaging 29 points and eight rebounds combined.
"As Chelsea goes, so does," Stringer said. "They are like Scottie and Michael."
Since the one-week rest that the team got after the Connecticut game, Newton has started all four contests and has undoubtedly elevated the team's overall play. She was named Co-Big East Player of the Week for the week of Feb. 2 after shooting an outstanding 15-for-17 over two games. The Los Angeles native followed that up with a game-high 21 points against Syracuse.
"I'm feeling good and getting into a rhythm now," Newton said. "I feel like I am helping the team but everyone is really playing well."
The Knights' supporting cast has been quite impressive as of late as well. Senior guard Dawn McCullouch will enter the game averaging 11 points per game. Rutgers post players have elevated their play as well, being able to out-rebound the last four opponents that they have faced.
Boston College, however, will definitely put up quite a fight. The Eagles hold a 14-5 record, including a mark of 8-1 at home. At home, they have been nearly unstoppable, with only one overtime loss as their lone blemish.
The Eagles also put forth an extraordinary effort in its game against Connecticut in which they lost by only eight.
BC will come into the contest with four players averaging double digits in scoring this season. As a team, Boston College is averaging 71 points per game and holding their opponents to under 57. The Eagles are led by junior Jessalynn Deveny and senior Amber Jacobs, who are both averaging just over 15 points per game.
BC has been the definition of a team, with every starter averaging eight points or higher and with seven players registering three or more rebounds.
Rutgers will again come into the game well rested, as they have not had a game since last Tuesday. Boston College will be coming off a game against Pittsburgh that was played last night on BC's home-court.
At the moment, RU holds a one-game conference lead over the Eagles, so this game will have significant meaning to it in regards to conference standings.
"It's going to be tough," Newton said. "We lost some games earlier and now we have to continue to play our game and continue to make strides."
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