MISSION STATEMENT
The Scarlet Knights outscored the Hokies, 33-19, in the second half to cruise to their 10th-straight win.
McCullouch was one of four Scarlet Knights to score in double figures to lead the balanced Rutgers offensive attack. Sophomore Chelsea Newton (Monroe, LA) added 11 points and nine rebounds. Sophomore Cappie Pondexter (Chicago, IL) tallied 10 points and five assists for RU, while junior Shalicia Hurns (Indianapolis, IN) chipped in 10 points and nine rebounds off the bench.
McCullouch, who scored 12 of her 23 tallies in the first half, helped Rutgers surge out to a 10-point lead at the break, 34-24. RU’s aggressive defense didn’t let up in the second half as the Scarlet Knights forced 11 second-half turnovers, sparking a 14-3 run to give Rutgers a 25-point lead (62-37), its largest of the game.
With the win, RU avenged its only loss in the past 14 games, a 66-64 overtime defeat at Virginia Tech on Jan. 22. The victory also keeps RU a perfect 11-0 at home this season as the Scarlet Knights held on to second place in the BIG EAST.
Rutgers will be back in action at No. 18 Villanova on Saturday, March 1, at 2 p.m.
POSTGAME NOTES
Dawn’s Delight:
Junior Dawn McCullouch (Long Beach, CA) made a season-high three three-point
field goals this evening, and tied her season high for attempts with five, on
her way to 23 points – one shy of her season high (24 vs. George Washington,
12/29/02). Her team-best 23 points also marked the first time she has led the
team in scoring since posting her 24 against GW. It is the third time this season
she has led the team in scoring this season.
Hot-Hand Hurns:
Junior Shalicia Hurns (Indianapolis, IN) made a season-high six free throws
on a season-best nine attempts. Hurns contributed 10 points and tied for the
team lead with nine rebounds.
Hokie Highs:
Virginia Tech’s 24-point loss (67-43) to Rutgers was the wrost loss by
the Hokies this season. The previous largest margin was 18 points, which Boston
College topped the Hokies by (65-47) on Feb. 16, 2003.
Coming into tonight’s game, Virginia Tech was averaging 64.6 points per
game and allowing opponents to score an average of 58.2 points. RU’s 67
points tied the fourth-most allowed by the Hokies this season. The most points
allowed by Virginia Tech this season was 79 (Florida International, 11/29/02).
Win, Win, Win:
Rutgers continued its home winning streak, extending the perfect home season
to 11-0 overall. Rutgers will play its last home game of the regular season
on Tuesday, March 4, hosting Boston College at 7:30 p.m. The last time Rutgers
finished the season with a perfect home record was the 1987-88 season, when
RU went 17-0 in the Louis Brown Athletic Center. The Scarlet Knights have seen
five perfect home seasons in their history (1978-79, 1979-80, 1985-86, 1986-87
and 1987-88).
Rutgers also carries a 10-game winning streak into its next game, at Villanova
Saturday, March 1, at 2 p.m. With the win tonight, Rutgers has its first 10-game
win streak since Jan. 17-Feb. 21 of 1998.
Official Basketball Box Score
Virginia Tech vs Rutgers
2/26/03 7:30 p.m. at Louis Brown Athletic Ctr, Piscataway, NJ
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VISITORS: Virginia Tech 17-8, 8-6
TOT-FG 3-PT REBOUNDS
## Player Name FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF TP A TO BLK S MIN
14 KUBLINA, Ieva....... 3-12 1-3 2-3 1 3 4 5 9 0 2 1 1 30
20 LIPTON, Emily....... 1-1 0-0 0-0 0 1 1 0 2 0 3 0 0 17
22 STARLING, Chrystal.. 3-12 1-5 2-2 1 1 2 2 9 0 3 0 1 32
23 CHRISS, Dawn........ 1-1 0-0 0-0 1 1 2 1 2 1 1 0 0 8
24 MASON, Carrie....... 2-4 1-2 0-0 0 3 3 0 5 4 3 0 0 40
32 GARDIN, Kerri....... 3-9 0-0 0-0 1 4 5 1 6 2 2 1 0 26
42 SIMMONS, Davina..... 1-1 0-0 0-0 2 2 4 1 2 0 0 0 1 11
45 FINNERTY, Megan..... 1-2 0-0 0-3 0 1 1 3 2 1 2 0 0 9
54 GIBSON, Erin........ 1-4 0-0 4-6 5 2 7 2 6 1 4 3 0 27
TEAM................ 2 1 3
Totals.............. 16-46 3-10 8-14 13 19 32 15 43 9 20 5 3 200
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 8-25 32.0% 2nd Half: 8-21 38.1% Game: 34.8% DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 2-6 33.3% 2nd Half: 1-4 25.0% Game: 30.0% REBS
F Throw % 1st Half: 6-7 85.7% 2nd Half: 2-7 28.6% Game: 57.1% 2
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HOME TEAM: Rutgers 19-5, 12-2
TOT-FG 3-PT REBOUNDS
## Player Name FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF TP A TO BLK S MIN
32 NEWTON, Chelsea..... f 4-11 0-0 3-3 4 5 9 3 11 2 1 0 1 40
34 CAMPBELL, Michelle.. f 3-10 0-0 0-1 5 0 5 2 6 0 3 0 1 20
15 HORTON, Mauri....... g 1-9 0-3 0-0 2 0 2 2 2 2 1 0 2 27
25 PONDEXTER, Cappie... g 5-11 0-1 0-0 0 4 4 1 10 5 2 1 1 34
35 McCULLOUCH, Dawn.... g 9-14 3-5 2-2 2 1 3 0 23 3 0 0 1 34
00 HURNS, Shalicia..... 2-3 0-0 6-9 5 4 9 3 10 1 1 1 2 23
03 LOCKE, Courtney..... 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
22 PETILLON, Amber..... 1-1 0-0 0-0 1 1 2 1 2 1 0 0 0 12
52 CAHOE, Aquisha...... 0-1 0-0 1-2 1 2 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 1
55 RICHMAN, Rebecca.... 1-4 0-0 0-0 1 2 3 3 2 0 1 1 0 8
TEAM................ 2 2 4
Totals.............. 26-64 3-9 12-17 23 21 44 15 67 14 9 3 8 200
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 15-32 46.9% 2nd Half: 11-32 34.4% Game: 40.6% DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 2-3 66.7% 2nd Half: 1-6 16.7% Game: 33.3% REBS
F Throw % 1st Half: 2-3 66.7% 2nd Half: 10-14 71.4% Game: 70.6% 1
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Officials: Nan Sisk, Wesley Dean, Denise Brooks-Clauser
Technical fouls: Virginia Tech-None. Rutgers-None.
Attendance: 2073
Score by Periods 1st 2nd Total
Virginia Tech................. 24 19 - 43
Rutgers....................... 34 33 - 67
