PISCATAWAY, N.J. – The memorable start to the 2021-22 season continued for Stony Brook women's basketball (4-0) on Tuesday as it defeated Rutgers (3-1), 53-44, to earn its third win in program history over a Power Five opponent. The Seawolves picked up their first win in program history over the Scarlet Knights and their second against a current Big Ten member (defeated Penn State on Nov. 25, 2018).
Head coach
Ashley Langford has guided Stony Brook to a 4-0 start, which is the team's best start to a season since 2017-18 when the Seawolves began the year 5-0. Langford is the first coach in program history to begin their coaching career with a 4-0 record or better.
The Seawolves used a gritty defensive effort to secure today's signature win. Stony Brook held Rutgers to 44 points on 26.4 percent shooting from the field and 21.4 percent shooting from three-point range. The defensive intensity was evident from the opening tip until the final buzzer as Stony Brook scored 22 points off turnovers and limited the Rutgers starting five to just 15 points.
Stony Brook ultimately took control of the game in the third quarter when it outscored Rutgers, 16-8, in the frame. The Seawolves stymied the Scarlet Knights in the third quarter as they only allowed three field goals and forced five turnovers. Stony Brook's offense took over as senior guard
Anastasia Warren, senior guard
Earlette Scott, and junior guard
Gigi Gonzalez pushed the tempo.
Gonzalez knocked down a three-pointer off the glass at the third quarter buzzer to push Stony Brook's lead to 35-29 through 30 minutes. The Seawolves carried over the momentum from the third quarter into the fourth as it closed out the game. Warren scored 10 of her 15 points in the fourth quarter as the guard shot 3-of-4 from three-point range to help secure the win for Stony Brook.
The Seawolves' defense limited Rutgers to just 23.1 percent shooting from the floor in the fourth quarter as they went on to outscore the Scarlet Knights, 18-15, in the frame and secured the 53-44 victory.
STATS AND NOTES
- Stony Brook held Rutgers to 44 points, the fewest that any opponent has scored against them this season. The 44 points allowed are the fewest that an opponent has scored against Stony Brook since February 23, 2021, when UAlbany scored 42 points. The 44 points are also the fewest that they have given up to a non-conference opponent since holding Iona to 40 points on November 21, 2019.
- The Seawolves finished the game with eight made three-pointers and have converted eight or more threes in a game in each of their first four games this season. It marks the first time since November 25-December 4, 2018, that Stony Brook has made eight or more three-pointers in four consecutive games.
- Warren led all scorers with 15 points on 4-of-9 shooting from the field and 3-of-6 shooting from three-point range. The guard went 4-of-6 from the free-throw line and drew six fouls in 34 minutes of action. It marked the third game in a row that she scored 15 or more points.
- Gonzalez paced the Seawolves' offense with 13 points and five assists. She also recorded a career-high tying three steals and a career-high two blocks in the win.
- Graduate forward Leighah-Amori Wool totaled seven points and eight rebounds in 33 minutes.
- Scott scored six points on 3-of-6 shooting, dished out two assists, and pulled down two rebounds in 30 minutes of play.
- Graduate forward India Pagan scored four points on 4-of-4 shooting from the free-throw line and grabbed seven rebounds. Pagan has recorded seven or more rebounds in three of the Seawolves' first four games.
- As a team, Stony Brook shot 34.7 percent from the field, 38.1 percent from three-point range, and 78.6 percent from the free-throw line.
- The Seawolves scored 22 points off turnovers to Rutgers' nine and tallied 20 points on the fast break to their eight.
QUOTES FROM THE SEAWOLVES
"I am really proud of this team and how they pushed through mentally and physically to go out there and compete to get a good win on the road. It's tough to come to Rutgers – a historic program – and they're tough, it was a grind. I am really proud of our resiliency and our ability to mentally push through it and walk out of here today with the upper hand," said coach Langford.
NEXT UP
Stony Brook continues its road trip on Saturday, November 20, when it travels to New Rochelle to face local New York foe Iona at 1 p.m. The game is set to broadcast on
ESPN3.
For an inside look at the Seawolves women's basketball program, be sure to follow them on
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