Rutgers Women's Basketball overwhelms Wagner to open season
Rutgers Women’s Basketball is in the win column.
Its new-look roster overwhelmed Wagner 79-50, on a night where the Scarlet Knights (1-0) may have struggled to find the net, but the defensive intensity and length shut down the Seahawks (0-1).
Several players made their debut at Jersey Mike’s Arena, with nearly all the new transfers making an impact without the services of Stephen F. Austin transfer Faith Blackstone.
Kansas State transfer Imani Lester led all scorers with career-highs of 17 points and eight rebounds, while also blocking a shot. Several times, Rutgers funneled its defense to Lester, who impacted plenty of shots defending the rim. Boston College transfer Kaylah Ivey scored 10 points on 4-for-12 shooting, though she also dished eight assists, fully entrenching herself as the point guard head coach Coquese Washington had said her team desired in the offseason. Fellow incoming Eagle Nene Ndiaye also scored in double-figures with 10 points of her own, to go along with four rebounds in the starting lineup.
Sophomore Zachara Perkins finished a strong all-around game with 11 points, nine rebounds, three steals, and two blocks.
Wagner was held to just 15-for-60 shooting from the floor (25 percent), and committed 23 turnovers.
“It’s game one, so we definitely [had] game one jitters,” Ivey said after the game. “Excitement, nervousness, but I think overall we played fairly decent. We could do a lot better, but I’m just glad we were able to get the win, able to get this out the way, and now we have to focus on Quinnipiac on Thursday.”
Defensive dominance
The Scarlet Knights physically overwhelmed the Seahawks with their new-look frontcourt, following the graduation of stars Destiny Adams and Chyna Cornwell.
Wagner was unable to get much going consistently from the perimeter or at the basket, with a 2-for-17 mark from beyond the arc and an 8-for-22 clip on layups.
New assistant coach Sean LeBeauf joined the program as the defensive coordinator, and Rutgers looked tenacious with its traps all night long. Lester – as well as UNC Greensboro transfer Yacine Ndiaye and junior Janae Walker – protected the rim and helped the perimeter defense by walling up at the basket.
“I’m happy that the coaching staff believes in me,” Lester said. “It just felt good to be more confident when I’m playing, and make sure that I’m being aggressive so that I continue to get my teammates open and get them good shots. So it just felt good to be back out there in a bigger role.”
Even in the passing lanes, the Scarlet Knights were able to flex their defensive muscles and recorded 13 steals, with four players swiping multiple passes.
While the Seahawks did not have the same size as Rutgers, the Scarlet Knights were able to defend at all three levels and stymie the opposing offense.
Room to improve
While the defense was able to take over the game, it helped alleviate the pressure off an inconsistent night shooting the ball.
The Scarlet Knights were able to generate quality looks and move the ball plenty – their 15 assists would have ranked as the fifth-most in a game last season – but the perimeter shooting left some to be desired. Rutgers shot 24-for-69 for the game – good for 35 percent – from the floor, and 7-for-27 from beyond the three-point line. The offense as a whole looked like a unit that was tasked with replacing its top six scorers from a year ago. That should not be a surprise, given the season is 40 minutes old.
The two starting guards – Ivey and sophomore Arizona transfer Lauryn Swann – combined to shoot 7-for-24 from the floor, though they did also combine for 21 points on the night. Ivey and Perkins both made two three-pointers to tie for the team lead.
A big reason for Rutgers’ increased pace and possessions is mostly because the offense is not predicated as much on post touches as in previous years. Obviously that is due to the differing personnel, but from the eye test, it is apparent the Scarlet Knights are going to run plenty, and pass plenty with Ivey helping run things. That could also come with its fair share of downsides, evidenced by the 14 turnovers committed, though the assist numbers help even it out.
One game is too small a sample size to make any conclusions, but the shooting was already a question mark coming into the year. It should – in theory – improve as the new players get more comfortable within the offense and their teammates. Though there is a legitimate question about whether the Scarlet Knights have enough shooting to compete in the Big Ten. The next game’s test against Quinnipiac should provide another sample to look at.
Lineup depth
Another new feature of the 2025-26 Rutgers squad is the team’s depth and versatility. Washington threw a lot of looks and lineups on the floor, whether it was going small with three guards, one wing, and one big, or a bigger lineup with length aplenty.
That ability to send out different lineups can particularly help on the defensive end, especially given the amount of wings and forwards that can be on the floor at once.
“I like our depth,” Washington said. “We have a lot of different ways that we can impact the game, and we’ll just continue to work and smooth out some of the rough edges.”
Injury updates
The Scarlet Knights came into the game fairly healthy, though they were down a key contributor with the aforementioned absence of Blackstone. Washington did not have any updates on her status, or a timetable for a return.
“I’m not sure how long,” she said of a timeline for return. “She’s in rehab protocol, and well, I hope to have her back. I’m confident we’ll get her back at some point, just not sure when.”
Senior forward Antonia Bates made her return to the floor after almost a year on the sidelines due to a nagging knee issue that was finally surgically repaired. In the opening minutes of the fourth quarter, she got tangled up with two other players while fighting for a rebound, and landed hard on the ground, holding the area around her surgically-repaired knee, unable to put any weight on it before being carried to the locker room.
Minutes later, Bates fortunately was able to walk out of the locker room and back onto the bench under her own power without any assistance, a potential sign that the injury could be a minor one.
Swann also appeared to twist her ankle early on in the game, but battled through it and looked largely like herself. In the fourth quarter, she did come out of the game hobbling with what might have been an aggravation of the injury. She played 23 minutes before fouling out – returning after limping off the floor – so it does not look like she suffered any serious injury of her own.
Up next
Rutgers continues its homestand to open the year, and will play host to the Quinnipiac Bobcats, one of last season’s mid-major darlings.
The game will tip off at 7 pm at Jersey Mike’s Arena, and will be streamed on Big Ten Plus.
💬 Wondering what other Rutgers fans are saying?
Head to The Round Table and jump into the discussion →
