RUTGERS 57 – NEBRASKA 45
There is no better way to honor Hall of Famer Theresa Grentz than getting the first Big Ten conference victory of the season. And that is exactly what Rutgers women’s basketball did Saturday afternoon at Jersey Mike’s Arena.
Grentz who was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame this past summer, returned to Piscataway to see many new and familiar faces as she was joined by family, friends and her players from the 1982 AIAW National Championship team.
After a stirring pregame ceremony, Rutgers dismantled Big Ten rival Nebraska 57-45 for its first Big Ten victory of the year, and improve to 7-10 overall on the season.
“We were happy to be able to have this day and able to honor Theresa Grentz and celebrate her accomplishments here at Rutgers,” Head Coach Coquese Washington added. “She is just a tremendous person and a tremendous role model. She has meant so much to the game of women’s basketball and to be able to celebrate her today was special. I’m glad the team came out and gave her a performance that she could be proud of.”
Rutgers even wore special throwback uniforms of the 80’s teams that help put the program on the National scene.
Kaylene Smikle led the way once again with her 13th double-digit scoring effort of the year with 20-points.
“I have seen [so much improvement] over the course of the season,” Washington said. “For us it’s not coach speak, it’s continuing to get better every day and we are a team that doesn’t have any continuity from last year. It has taken a while for us to get into our rhyme and figure out who we can be. This is a big step today to be able to get over the hump and actually play well for four quarters.”
