PISCATAWAY, NJ – The Rutgers women’s basketball team (9-4, 3-1 BIG EAST) made its first appearance in the national rankings in more than a year, appearing 23rd in this week’s Associated Press Top 25 Poll (Jan. 20).

This marks the Scarlet Knights’ first appearance in the AP Poll since being rated 11th for their NCAA Tournament second-round loss to No. 15 Southwest Missouri State on March 19, 2001.

The last time RU was included in the USA Today/ESPN/WBCA Top 25 Poll was the beginning of the 2001-2002 season when the Scarlet Knights were 23rd in the preseason poll. That poll is released each Tuesday.

Last week, the Scarlet Knights defeated back-to-back nationally-ranked opponents, earning a 58-57 home victory against No. 19/25 Villanova Jan. 15 and a 64-61 win at No. 21/20 Notre Dame Jan. 18. Rutgers has posted a 9-4 record this season, with all four losses coming on the road, three of those at the hands of top-10 teams, by an average margin of 6.5 points.

Rutgers will end a two-game conference road trip at Virginia Tech Wednesday, Jan. 22, at 7:00 p.m. The game can be heard on WCTC 1450 AM and WRSU 88.7 FM, and a live feed of the broadcast will be available on www.scarletknights.com.