 "Photo: Jared Makowski/Associate Photography Editor")
Coming off an easy 64-47 win over Temple Wednesday night, the Rutgers women's basketball team needs to take that confidence to the next five games, where it will face Big East big guns like Miami, Boston College and Georgetown.
"Every game is a must-win," head coach C. Vivian Stringer said. "Temple was a must, but we have to take it one game at a time. We have a lot of work ahead of us."
Six of RU's seven losses have come against ranked teams or teams receiving votes in the Associated Press Top 25 Poll.
The Scarlet Knights dominated Wednesday's game offensively over the Owls but were not as aggressive defensively. This could hurt them in the next five games as they face some of the most offensively aggressive teams in the conference.
Together, four of the five teams - Miami, Boston College, Syracuse and Georgetown - average 64.23 points per game compared to Rutgers' average of 57.1.
"The next five games are going to be a defining moment," Stringer said.
Along with defense, another major factor in all of the games coming up will be location.
Away from the RAC, the Knights hold a 1-7 record.
"We have in our mind that we are not losing at home no matter what," senior guard Dawn McCullouch said. "So we are going to come out fired up all the time."
Rutgers is currently undefeated at home with a record of 9-0 and have gained its only two conference wins, over Virginia Tech and St. John's, at the RAC.
On the season, Rutgers has been holding opponents to 48.6 points at the RAC.
Fortunately, the beginning of this difficult run does start at home when the Knights face the Hoyas Sunday afternoon.
Defense will be a key deciding factor in the game because the Hoyas put up an average of 61.6 points per game while holding opponents to 7.93 points under their average. They also have a not-so-secret weapon in their senior guard Rebekkah Brunson, the league-leader in double doubles.
RU's answer is junior guard Cappie Pondexter and McCullouch. Pondexter has scored in double figures in 15 of RU's 17 games, while McCullouch is coming off a 22-point performance against the Owls, breaking a recent scoring slump.
The Knights' bench is thin due to a of slew injuries, so it will be up to the remaining eight to step it up and win those games away and at home.
One of the biggest concerns is junior guard Chelsea Newton, who has been playing with pulled muscles that won't heal.
"Chelsea is not herself, she looks weak and she is weak," Stringer said. "But she plays so hard."
The rest of the team is willing to put its all into the rest of the season as they approach a turning point.
"I'm at the point where I'm willing to do what ever it takes," McCullouch said. "This is it for me I just want to give everything I can give and I try to give it everyday."
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