Women's Basketball
Rutgers vs. OSU Rematch Should be a War
By John Porentas
If the rematch lives up to the first meeting, the game between Ohio State and Rutgers in the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA tournament ought to be a doozie.
The Buckeyes (30-4) and Scarlet Knights (27-6) met on January 16 in a game that featured eight ties and nine lead changes. The Buckeyes came out eventual 52-50 winners in the game played at the Value City Arena in Columbus.
The first game was a classic matchup of a strong inside presence against excellent perimeter play. OSU center Jessica Davenport was the lone Buckeye to reach double figures in the first game and led all scorers with 22 points. Davenport was offset, however, but Rutgers guard Ajavon Matee who was virtually unstoppable in the second half and sliced and diced here way to 20 points to lead the Scarlet Knights.
Since taking the loss to OSU, Rutgers has won 14 while losing just three. Two of those three losses came to UConn, one a 57-44 loss to the Huskies at Connecticut in Big East regular-season play and then 61-57 in the Big East Tournament. Rutgers defeated UConn 76-62 when the Scarlet Knights got the Huskies on their home floor. Rutgers only other loss since the OSU game came at the hands of Notre Dame, also a road loss for Rutgers.
Rutgers is undefeated at home this season, and will have a distinct home-court advantage playing the Buckeyes in nearby Philadelphia this weekend. They will also be able to lean on All-American Guard Cappie Poindexter who has come on like gangbusters as she has rounded back into form after recovering from her early-season injury.
In the first meeting with the Buckeyes Poindexter saw limited playing time, logging just 19 minutes. The Ohio State game was just the seventh of the season in which she appeared and Poindexter was not at full strength against the Buckeyes. She scored just five points in that game, but since has scored in double figures in 15 of 17 games, including a season-high 27 against Boston College. She has averaged just over 16 points per game over that 17-game span.
OSU Head Coach Jim Foster and legendary Rutgers Head Coach Vivian Stringer both emphasize defense. The first game was a defensive struggle and was decided when OSU guard Ashley Allen was able to make a defensive play on Matee to come up with a late-game steal. In each of Rutgers' six losses this season they were held to 61 points or less. Rutgers averaged just 52 points per game in their losses this season. The key for the Buckeyes in the rematch will be to contain the Rutgers offense again despite the presence of a rejuvenated Poindexter in the lineup.
The game is scheduled for Sunday, March 27 and will tipoff at approximately 2:30 PM.
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