BY DOUG McKENZIE
Staff Writer
On Saturday, the area’s only national championship-contending college basketball team will see if the slipper fits.
While none of the local men’s teams gave local college hoops fans much to cheer about this season, the Rutgers University women’s team has emerged as a serious contender in this year’s NCAA tournament.
After defeating the University of Connecticut last month to earn the team’s first-ever Big East Tournament championship, the Scarlet Knights have continued to look like a team on a mission, reaching the Sweet 16 for the third straight year, and doing it in impressive fashion
Rutgers knocked off Michigan State, 70-57, in East Lansing on Tuesday, putting forth a dominating performance while overcoming what was essentially a home game for the Spartans. It marked the Scarlet Knights’ 10th win in their last 11 games.
What stood out was Rutgers’ overwhelming defensive intensity, which forced the Spartans into 17 turnovers, and held them to just over 32 percent shooting for the game.
Meanwhile, Rutgers was far more accurate on the offensive end, hitting eight of 15 three-pointers on the game, and 24 of 29 free throws. Sophomore center Kia Vaughn led the strong Rutgers effort, scoring 17 points, grabbing seven rebounds, blocking six shots and recording four steals.
Her defensive dominance set the tone for much of the game, and her teammates followed suit.
Rutgers also got strong offensive performances from Essence Carson (14 points), Epiphanny Prince (14 points), Brittany Ray (nine points), Matee Ajavon (seven points) and Heather Zurich (seven points).
Despite their youth (with just three juniors and two sophomores on the roster), the Scarlet Knights played like a group of seasoned tournament veterans. Rutgers’ freshmen are playing well beyond their years at this point in the season, and are a major reason why the Scarlet Knights have reached this far.
Rutgers jumped ahead early in Tuesday’s game, holding a 32-25 lead at the half, and turned it up a notch in the third quarter. The lead was in double digits for most of the second half, as Rutgers continued to squash any and all Michigan State rallies with their sharp-shooting down the stretch.
Next up, the Scarlet Knights will be severely tested when they take on top-ranked Duke on Saturday in Greensboro, N.C. Duke, who beat Temple, 62-52, on Tuesday, is 32-1 on the season.
The Blue Devils have been the nation’s best team all season, and have a number of players who can beat you, making them that much tougher to defend against.
However, Rutgers is playing its best basketball of the season at the right time, and should they play against Duke the way they played on Tuesday, they certainly have a shot at knocking off the Blue Devils on Saturday.
Michigan State head coach Joanne P. Callie agreed, saying, “If Rutgers sets their minds to it, Rutgers can beat anybody.”
Winning an NCAA Division I national championship is one of the hardest things to do in all of organized sports. Oftentimes, you need to be as lucky as you are good.
This Saturday, Rutgers hopes to be both, and take one step closer to becoming this year’s Cinderella.