The Rutgers women’s basketball team is set to begin its Big Ten schedule against No. 12 Iowa on Saturday, December 6 at 6 p.m. The game will be broadcast live on FS1, and fans can also listen on FOX Sports New Jersey Radio.
This season, the Rutgers women’s basketball program is sponsored by Prudential. The home opener will feature a “Scarlet Out,” with all attendees encouraged to wear red. Students attending the game can expect T-shirt and glow stick giveaways, as well as free pizza during College Night Out promotions. Select players will sign autographs for fans after the game.
In their most recent matchup, Rutgers defeated Saint Peter’s with a score of 57-39. Nene Ndiaye, Imani Lester, and Janae Walker each contributed 12 points. Lester and Imani Walker both led in rebounds with seven apiece. The Scarlet Knights maintained their lead throughout the contest and secured an 11-0 run in the final quarter.
Nene Ndiaye has made an immediate impact since transferring from Boston College. She leads Rutgers with an average of 16.9 points per game and has scored at least ten points in every appearance this season. Ndiaye has reached over twenty points three times so far, including a career-high of 26 against Siena on November 24. She also achieved her first double-double with nineteen points and ten rebounds versus Northeastern on November 30.
Rutgers faces a challenging schedule this year, playing eight teams ranked in the top twenty-five across AP and WBCA USA Today polls, including UCLA (#4), Michigan (#6), Maryland (#7), Iowa (#12), USC (#16), Michigan State (#20), Washington (#21), Ohio State (#23), as well as receiving votes Nebraska, Princeton, Oregon, and Indiana.
The Scarlet Knights have ten home games scheduled within the first two months of play at Jersey Mike’s Arena. After opening with five home contests, they travel to Auburn before returning for four more games in New Jersey ahead of facing Princeton away on December 10.
Head coach Coquese Washington introduced several changes to her staff during the offseason: Shannon LeBeauf joins as Senior Associate Head Coach after fourteen years at UCLA; Sean LeBeauf comes from UC Riverside; Danielle Edwards arrives from SMU; James Spinelli was previously at Northeastern; Jeanine Wasielewski enters her third season as assistant coach and now serves as Offensive Coordinator.
Other staff updates include Nneka Enemkpali moving into the role of Chief of Staff after two seasons as assistant coach—overseeing administrative operations and acting as liaison to internal units—and Alejandro Ramirez being promoted to Director of Basketball Operations full-time following his interim tenure last season.
Returning players this year are Antonia Bates, Deja Young, Zachara Perkins, Kennedy Brandt, and Janae Walker. Six transfers have joined: Lauryn Swann (Arizona), Kaylah Ivey (Boston College), Nene Ndiaye (Boston College), Faith Blackstone (Stephen F. Austin), Imani Lester (Kansas State), Yacine Ndiaye (UNCG). Additionally, freshmen Precious Gem Wheeler and Makylah Moore have been added to the roster.
Rutgers’ games will appear six times this season across BTN and FS1 networks:
– Nov. 30 vs Saint Peter’s (BTN)
– Dec. 6 vs Iowa (FS1)
– Jan. 4 at Ohio State (BTN)
– Jan. 22 vs Michigan (BTN)
– Feb. 17 at Illinois (BTN)
– Feb. 21 vs Penn State (BTN)
Iowa enters Saturday’s contest undefeated through eight games this season after notable wins over Baylor and Miami during Thanksgiving weekend.
Following their Big Ten opener against Iowa, Rutgers travels to Princeton for its second nonconference road game on Wednesday, December 10 at 7:30 p.m.
Fans can follow updates about Rutgers women’s basketball via Twitter or Instagram (@RutgersWBB) or visit Facebook pages for both the team or Rutgers Athletics. Additional information is available through Twitter (@RUAthletics) or Instagram (@RUAthletics).
