Wikipedia

Rutgers Scarlet Knights women's basketball

The Rutgers Scarlet Knights women's basketball team is the intercollegiate women's basketball program representing Rutgers University–New Brunswick. The school competes in the Big Ten Conference in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The Scarlet Knights play home basketball games at the Louis Brown Athletic Center on the university campus in Piscataway, New Jersey.[2][3]

Rutgers Scarlet Knights
women's basketball
2026–27 Rutgers Scarlet Knights women's basketball team
UniversityRutgers University–New Brunswick
Head coachGary Redus II (1st season)
LocationPiscataway, New Jersey
ArenaJersey Mike's Arena
(capacity: 8,000)
ConferenceBig Ten
NicknameScarlet Knights
ColorsScarlet[1]
 
NCAA Division I tournament runner-up
2007
Other NCAA Division I tournament results
Final Four2000, 2007
Elite Eight1986, 1987, 1999, 2000, 2005, 2007, 2008
Sweet Sixteen1986, 1987, 1988, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009
Appearances1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021
AIAW tournament champions
1982
Other AIAW tournament results
Final Four1982
Quarterfinals1982
Appearances1979, 1980, 1981, 1982
Conference tournament champions
A-10: 1987, 1988, 1993, 1994
Big East: 2007
Conference regular-season champions
1984, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1993, 1994, 1998, 1999, 2005, 2006
Uniforms
Home jersey
Team colours
Home
Away jersey
Team colours
Away

History

edit

The Scarlet Knights (known as the Lady Knights until 1995) began play in 1974, winning their first ever game against Princeton 76–60. In 1976, Theresa Shank Grentz was hired as head coach, becoming the first full-time female basketball coach. The Scarlet Knights won the AIAW National Tournament 83–77 over Texas at the Palestra with the help of Restrepo-Pinero, who scored 30 points while being named MVP. In 2007, C. Vivian Stringer became the first coach to ever lead three teams (including Rutgers) to the Final Four.

Retired Numbers

edit
Rutgers Scarlet Knights retired numbers
No. Player Date of retirement Career
23Sue WicksApril 26, 19981984–1988
25Cappie PondexterDecember 1, 20162002–2006 [4]
45June OlkowskiJanuary 2, 19881978–1982

All-Time Statistical Leaders

edit

Career leaders

edit
  • Points scored: 2,655 (Sue Wicks – 1984–88)
  • Assists: 839 (Tasha Pointer – 1997-01)
  • Rebounds: 1,357 (Sue Wicks – 1984–88)
  • Steals: 294 (Cappie Pondexter – 2002–06)
  • Blocks: 332 (Rachel Hollivay – 2012–2016)

Single season leaders

edit
  • Points scored: 793 (Sue Wicks- 1987–88)
  • Assists: 257 (Tasha Pointer – 2000–01)
  • Rebounds: 404 (Sue Wicks – 1986–87)
  • Steals: 117 (Liz Hanson – 1993–94)
  • Blocks: 127 (Rachel Hollivay – 2013–14)

Single game leaders

edit
  • Points scored: (44 by Sue Wicks vs George Washington −12/05/1987)
  • Assists: (18 by Tasha Pointer vs Stephen F. Austin – 03/17/2001)
  • Rebounds: (26 by Sandy Tupurins vs William Paterson – 03/01/1977)
  • Steals: (10 by Syessence Davis vs Penn State – 01/10/2015 & 10 by Denise Kenney vs Saint Joseph’s – 02/16/1978)
  • Blocks: (11 by Sue Wicks vs West Virginia – 01/03/1987)

Awards and honors

edit
  • Naismith/U.S. Basketball Writers Association/Women’s Basketball News Service/Street & Smith’s National Player of the Year – Sue Wicks, 1988 winner.
  • Big East Conference Coach of the Year – C. Vivian Stringer, 1998 & 2005.
  • Atlantic-10 Conference Coach of the Year – Theresa Grentz, 1986, 1988 (co), 1993, & 1994.

International

edit

Coaching history

edit

As of the beginning of the 2024–25 season, the Knights have had five head coaches and two interim coaches.

Coach Tenure Record Conference record
Ellen Johns1974–19756–5n/a
Dottie McCrea1975–19765–9n/a
Theresa Grentz1976–1995434–150156–28
C. Vivian Stringer1995–2022477–267243–136†
Carlene Mitchell (interim)20101–00–0
Timothy Eatman (interim)20184–23-0
Coquese Washington2022–202642-8411-61
Gary Redus II2026–present0-00-0
Totals 941–462 404–181

† Denotes combined conference record (202–94 record with the Big East Conference (1979-2013), 12–6 record with the American Athletic Conference, and 19–15 record with the Big Ten Conference)

2026-27 Coaching Staff

edit
Name Position Consecutive season at
Rutgers in current position
Gary Redus IIHead coach1st
Daphne MitchellAssistant coach1st
Lauren HansenAssistant coach1st
Manisha RedusAssistant coach1st
Preston BeverlyAssistant coach1st
Matthew BruneGeneral Manager1st

Roster

edit
2026–27 Rutgers Scarlet Knights women's basketball team
PlayersCoaches
Pos.#NameHeightYearPrevious schoolHometown
G 1 Lauren Swann 5 ft 7 in (1.7 m) JrArizona Queens, NY
G 5 Deja Young 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) SrHampton Teaneck, NJ
F 7 Precious Gem Wheeler 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) SoFranklin Franklin, NJ
G/F 22 Zachara Perkins 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) JrSummer Creek Houston, TX
F 30 Imani Lester 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) SrKansas State Raleigh, NC
G 33 Kennedy Brandt 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) SrGlenbard West Glen Ellyn, IL
G tbd Tara Dye 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) SrPurdue Newark, NJ
G tbd Mia Pauldo 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) SoTennessee Paterson, NJ
G tbd Mya Pauldo 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) SoTennessee Paterson, NJ
F tbd Fatima Diakhate 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) SrPittsburgh Dakar, SEN
F tbd Zennia Thomas 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) SrHoward Cleveland, OH
G tbd Jaylah Lampley 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) SoMississippi State Fishers, IN
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • (W) Walk-on

Year by year results

edit
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason Coaches' poll AP poll
Ellen Johns (Independent) (1974–1975)
1974–75 Ellen Johns 6–5–
Ellen Johns: 6–5–
Dottie McCrea (Independent) (1975–1976)
1975–76 Dottie McCrea 5–9–
Dottie McCrea: 5–9–
Theresa Grentz (Independent) (1976–1981)
1976–77 Theresa Grentz 17–11–
1977–78 Theresa Grentz 16–12–
1978–79 Theresa Grentz 26–4–AIAW Consolation7
1979–80 Theresa Grentz 28–5–AIAW Quarterfinals8
1980–81 Theresa Grentz 27–6–AIAW second round9
1981–82 Theresa Grentz 25–7–AIAW Champions8
1982–83 Theresa Grentz 19–10–
Theresa Grentz: 160–55–
Theresa Grentz (Atlantic 10 Conference) (1983–1995)
1983–84 Theresa Grentz 20–97–11st
1984–85 Theresa Grentz 19–95–3T-4th
1985–86 Theresa Grentz 29–416–01stNCAA Elite Eight10
1986–87 Theresa Grentz 30–317–11stNCAA Elite Eight5
1987–88 Theresa Grentz 27–517–11stNCAA Sweet Sixteen8
1988–89 Theresa Grentz 24–716–2T-1stNCAA Second Round
1989–90 Theresa Grentz 20–1016–2T-1stNCAA First Round
1990–91 Theresa Grentz 23–715–3T-2ndNCAA First Round20
1991–92 Theresa Grentz 21–1111–5T-2ndNCAA Second Round
1992–93 Theresa Grentz 22–912–21stNCAA Second Round
1993–94 Theresa Grentz 22–813–3T-1stNCAA First Round
1994–95 Theresa Grentz 17–1311–5T-3rd
Theresa Grentz: 274–95156–28
C. Vivian Stringer (Big East Conference) (1995–2013)
1995–96 C. Vivian Stringer 13–158–105th (BE7)
1996–97 C. Vivian Stringer 11–178–10T-2nd (BE7)
1997–98 C. Vivian Stringer 22–1014–41st (BE7)NCAA Sweet Sixteen
1998–1999 C. Vivian Stringer 29–617–1T-1stNCAA Elite Eight9
1999–2000 C. Vivian Stringer 26–812–4T-3rdNCAA Final Four48
2000–01 C. Vivian Stringer 23–813–33rdNCAA Second Round1711
2001–02 C. Vivian Stringer 9–205–1111th
2002–03 C. Vivian Stringer 21–813–32ndNCAA Second Round23
2003–04 C. Vivian Stringer 21–1210–6T-6thNCAA First Round
2004–05 C. Vivian Stringer 28–714–21stNCAA Elite Eight79
2005–06 C. Vivian Stringer 27–516–01stNCAA Sweet Sixteen99
2006–07 C. Vivian Stringer 27–912–4T-2ndNCAA Runner-up215
2007–08 C. Vivian Stringer 27–714–23rdNCAA Elite Eight67
2008–09 C. Vivian Stringer 21–139–77thNCAA Sweet Sixteen21
2009–10 C. Vivian Stringer 18–159–7T–6thNCAA First Round
2010–11 C. Vivian Stringer 20–1311–54thNCAA Second Round
2011–12 C. Vivian Stringer 22–1010–66thNCAA First Round23
2012–13 C. Vivian Stringer 16–147–9T-9th
C. Vivian Stringer: 381–197202–94
C. Vivian Stringer (American Athletic Conference) (2013–2014)
2013–14 C. Vivian Stringer 28–912–64thWNIT Champions
C. Vivian Stringer: 28–912–6
C. Vivian Stringer (Big Ten Conference) (2014–2022)
2014–15 C. Vivian Stringer 23–1012–6T-4thNCAA Second Round22
2015–16 C. Vivian Stringer 19–157–9T-9thWNIT Second Round
2016–17 C. Vivian Stringer 6–243–13T-11th
2017–18 C. Vivian Stringer 20–127–9T-9th
2018–19 C. Vivian Stringer 22–1013–53rdNCAA First Round
2019–20 C. Vivian Stringer 22–911–7T-5thCancelled due to Covid-19
2020–21 C. Vivian Stringer 14–510–33rdNCAA First Round21
2021–22 C. Vivian Stringer 11–203–1413th
C. Vivian Stringer: 137–10566–66
Coquese Washington (Big Ten Conference) (2022–2026)
2022–23 Coquese Washington 12–205–1311th
2023–24 Coquese Washington 8–242–1614th
2024–25 Coquese Washington 13–203–1515thWNIT Great 8
2025–26 Coquese Washington 9–201–1718th
Coquese Washington: 42–8411–61
Gary Redus II (Big Ten Conference) (2026–present)
2026–27 Gary Redus II 0–00–0
Gary Redus II: 0–00–0
Total:1033–559

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

Postseason results

edit

NCAA Division I

edit

Rutgers has appeared in the NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament 26 times. They have a record of 36–26.

Year Seed Round Opponent Result
1986 #2Second Round
Sweet Sixteen
Elite Eight		#7 Villanova
#3 Penn State
#4 W. Kentucky		W 85–58
W 85–72
L 74–89
1987 #2Second Round
Sweet Sixteen
Elite Eight		#7 Duke
#3 NC State
#1 Texas		W 78–64
W 75–60
L 77–85
1988 #3Second Round
Sweet Sixteen		#6 Old Dominion
#2 Virginia		W 88–78
L 75–89
1989 #7First Round
Second Round		#10 Southern Miss
#2 NC State		W 95–73
L 73–75
1990 #11First Round#6 VanderbiltL 75–78
1991 #6First Round#11 ToledoL 65–83
1992 #8First Round
Second Round		#9 Southern Miss
#1 Tennessee		W 93–63
L 56–97
1993 #9First Round
Second Round		#8 Vermont
#1 Ohio State		W 80–74
L 60–91
1994 #5First Round#12 W. KentuckyL 73–84
1998 #5First Round
Second Round
Sweet Sixteen		#12 Oregon
#4 Iowa State
#1 Tennessee		W 79–76
W 62–61
L 60–92
1999 #3First Round
Second Round
Sweet Sixteen
Elite Eight		#14 Dartmouth
#6 Arizona
#2 Texas Tech
#1 Purdue		W 84–70
W 90–47
W 53–42
L 62–75
2000 #2First Round
Second Round
Sweet Sixteen
Elite Eight
Final Four		#15 Holy Cross
#10 St. Joseph's
#11 UAB
#1 Georgia
#1 Tennessee		W 91–70
W 59–39
W 60–45
W 59–51
L 54–64
2001 #4First Round
Second Round		#13 Stephen F. Austin
#5 SW Missouri State		W 80–43
L 53–60
2003 #4First Round
Second Round		#13 W. Kentucky
#5 Georgia		W 64–52
L 64–74
2004 #7First Round#10 ChattanoogaL 69–74
2005 #3First Round
Second Round
Sweet Sixteen
Elite Eight		#14 Hartford
#6 Temple
#2 Ohio State
#1 Tennessee		W 62–37
W 61–54
W 64–58
L 49–59
2006 #3First Round
Second Round
Sweet Sixteen		#14 Dartmouth
#11 TCU
#2 Tennessee		W 63–58
W 82–48
L 69–76
2007 #4First Round
Second Round
Sweet Sixteen
Elite Eight
Final Four
Title Game		#13 East Carolina
#5 Michigan State
#1 Duke
#3 Arizona State
#3 LSU
#1 Tennessee		W 77–34
W 70–57
W 53–52
W 64–45
W 59–35
L 46–59
2008 #2First Round
Second Round
Sweet Sixteen
Elite Eight		#15 Robert Morris
#7 Iowa State
#6 George Washington
#1 Connecticut		W 85–42
W 69–58
W 53–42
L 56–66
2009 #7First Round
Second Round
Sweet Sixteen		#10 VCU
#2 Auburn
#6 Purdue		W 57–51
W 80–52
L 61–67
2010 #9First Round#8 IowaL 63–70
2011 #7First Round
Second Round		#10 Louisiana Tech
#2 Texas A&M		W 76–51
L 48–70
2012 #6First Round#11 GonzagaL 73–86
2015 #8First Round
Second Round		#9 Seton Hall
#1 Connecticut		W 79–66
L 55–91
2019 #7First Round#10 BuffaloL 71–82
2021 #6First Round#11 BYUL 66–69

AIAW Division I

edit

The Scarlet Knights made four appearances in the AIAW National Division I basketball tournament, with a combined record of 7–4.

Year Round Opponent Result
1979 First Round
Quarterfinals		 Tennessee
Long Beach State		 W 73–66
L 51–69
1980 First Round
Quarterfinals		 Central Missouri State
Providence
Old Dominion		 W 87–75
W 70–54
L 62–84
1981 First Round
Quarterfinals		 Clemson
Long Beach State		 W 99–76
L 73–77
1982 First Round
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
Championship Game		 Georgia Southern
Minnesota
Villanova
Texas		 W 89–79
W 83–75
W 83–75
W 83–77

References

edit
  1. ↑ "Colors | Visual Identity System". Retrieved April 6, 2017.
  2. ↑ "Women's Basketball – Rutgers University". www.scarletknights.com.
  3. ↑ "2015-2016 Women's Basketball Guide" (PDF). Rutgers. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2016.
  4. ↑ "Women's Basketball: 2021-22 Media Guide" (PDF). Rutgers. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
  5. ↑ "29th Summer Universiade 2017 Main Results". fisu.net. Retrieved June 16, 2021.
  6. ↑ Dure, Beau (August 11, 2024). "US survive France charge to clinch eighth consecutive basketball gold medal – as it happened". the Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
edit
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rutgers_Scarlet_Knights_women%27s_basketball&oldid=1352866641"