By Nic Martino
Acting Sports Editor
It's safe to say this is the biggest game of the season.
When the No. 22 Rutgers (14-6, 7-2) women's basketball team travels to No. 5 Connecticut (20-2, 10-0) tonight, it may be its only chance to stay in the race for a regular season Big East Championship.
With only seven games left, Rutgers will most likely have to win the remainder of its games (including two against the Huskies) to end up with the Big East's best in-conference record.
RU has gotten significant minutes from all 10 players on the roster over its current four-game win streak, including double-digit points from the entire starting five of Epiphanny Prince, Matee Ajavon, Essence Carson, Heather Zurich and Kia Vaughn in Saturday's win over Cincinnati.
"Heather, and E and Mat and these guys needed to play together well," Rutgers head coach C. Vivian Stringer said. "We're going to have enough when we've got 12,000 people at Gampel Pavillion screaming and we can't hear a pattern."
Road teams never have it easy, but the home court advantage at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion has reached legendary status.
If there is an obstacle the Scarlet Knights have had to overcome this season, it has been their ability to win on the road.
"On the road we've got to be able to execute too, and play the same way we did at home," Zurich said.
RU's young squad has seemed flustered at times in visiting arenas and has struggled to a disappointing 3-4 record in their opponent's building this season.
"What can you say? Coach is definitely going to say it all," Carson said about her role in preparing her freshmen teammates. "When I was a freshman, there was nothing that the seniors at that time could tell me. We can't simulate that loudness."
The difference is Rutgers has steadily improved over the course of the year, hitting its stride at the exact right moment.
Over the last 10 games, the Knights improved in nearly every statistical category over their opening 10-game stretch.
Probably the most interesting of those statistics is that while averaging 4.4 points less on offense, RU found a way to improve its scoring margin from .5 points less than its opponents early in the season to 17.5 points more in its most recent contests.
UConn is undoubtedly Rutgers' greatest conference rival, and the Huskies hold a distinct advantage in the all-time series, 18-4. There is certainly no love lost between Stringer and Huskies head coach Geno Auriemma, including when the Rutgers head coach alleged Auriemma made inappropriate comments to then Rutgers star Cappie Pondexter in 2005.
After losing to Rugters, Cincinnati head coach Laurie Pirtle was asked what each team can claim as an advantage in the Rutgers-UConn game.
Her response: "Geno coaches really well, and Vivian coaches really well."
Stringer seemed to have shaken off her UConn bugaboo last season, winning both matchups, but her all-time record versus Auriemma is just 6-18.
Be the first to comment on this article!