BYU Seeks Upset Against Rutgers In First Round Of Women’s NCAA Tournament
Mar 21, 2021, 12:36 PM | Updated: 12:37 pm
(BYU Photo)
PROVO, Utahย – The BYU Cougars earned an at-large bid to the 2021 Women’s NCAA Tournament and will now look to make the most of their opportunity. BYU will take on the Rutgers Scarlet Knights for the first time in program history on Monday, March 22nd, 2021.
๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ฐ pic.twitter.com/idcBFWgGL9
— BYU Women's Hoops (@byuwbb) March 21, 2021
This NCAA Tournament bid marks the 14th in BYU Women’s Basketball history. It’s the 10th appearance under head coach Jeff Judkins, who is the winningest coach in BYU basketball history (men’s or women’s).
Here are all the nitty-gritty details on BYU taking on the Rutgers Scarlet Knights.
What You Need To Know: (11) BYU vs. (6) Rutgers
BYU is led by a trio of stars in the starting five in WCC Co-Player of the Year Shaylee Gonzales, AP Honorable Mention All-American Lauren Gustin, and First Team All-WCC guard Paisley Harding. Gonzales and Harding led BYU to a round of 32 appearance in the last NCAA Tournament appearance two years ago.
Gustin is a walking double-double and one of the nation’s best rebounders this season. The Salt Lake Community College transfer is averaging 11.5 points and 12.8 rebounds per game this season.
Work with what you got ๐ฏ pic.twitter.com/MM0MRZcp8L
— BYU Women's Hoops (@byuwbb) March 20, 2021
BYU finished the season 18-5 and it closed on a heartbreaking buzzer-beater loss to the Gonzaga Bulldogs in the WCC Tournament championship game. That loss put BYU on the bubble entering Selection Monday, but the Cougars landed an at-large bid and now gear up for a matchup against one of college basketball’s greatest coaches.
Rutgers coach C. Vivian Stringer is one of the iconic names in women’s hoops. This is her 28th NCAA Tournament appearance as a head coach. Stringer is in her 28th year at Rutgers and 50th season overall directing a college basketball program.
Rutgers finished the 2020-21 season with a 14-4 record (10-3 Big Ten Conference). The Knights are No. 12 in the final NET rankings entering the Women’s NCAA Tournament.
BYU vs. Rutgers – Women’s NCAA Tournament First Round
Where: Strahan Arena
Location: San Marcos, Texas
When: Monday, March 22nd, 2021, 10 a.m. (MT)
๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ถ๐ด ๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ#ncaaW 1st Round
No. 21/23 #RHoops(6)
vs. BYU (11)Mon. March 22 | 12 p.m. ET
live on @ESPNUNotes, nuggets, news and how to follow โฌ๏ธhttps://t.co/cDreytMvKB pic.twitter.com/StUK6c8hVj
— Rutgers W.Basketball (@RutgersWBB) March 21, 2021
BYU/Rutgers: How To Watch Women’s NCAA Tournament
TV: ESPNU
Announcers: Kevin Fitzgerald (play-by-play), Christ Thomaskutty (analyst)
Which Channel: DirecTV (208), Dish (141), AT&T U-Verse (1605), Verizon FiOS (573), Comcast XFinity (Utah โ 400)
How To Stream
Stream: ESPN app or watchespn.com. Log in with your television provider credentials.
AP ALL-AMERICA HONORABLE MENTION
We see you @laurengus10 ๐ pic.twitter.com/lBGCaj3QgH
— BYU Women's Hoops (@byuwbb) March 19, 2021
BYU Fast Facts heading into NCAA Tournament
2020-21 Record: 18-5 overall
Head Coach: Jeff Judkins (20th year at BYU, 20th year as Division I head coach)
Judkins Coaching Record in NCAA Tournament: (7-9)
Last NCAA Tournament Appearance: 2019
Rutgers Fast Facts
2020-21 Record: 14-4
Head Coach: C. Vivian Stringer (26th year at Rutgers, 50th year as college basketball head coach)
Stringer Coaching Record in NCAA Tournament: (50-26)
Last NCAA Tournament Appearance: 2019
Last Game Starting Lineups
BYU
G – Shaylee Gonzales, R-Soph.; 5-10
G – Paisley Harding, Sr.; 5-9
G – Maria Albiero, Sr.; 5-8
F – Lauren Gustin, Soph.
C – Sara Hamson, Sr.; 6-7
Rutgers
G – Diamond Johnson, Fr.; 5-5
G – Ariella Guirantes, R-Sr.; 5-11
F – Tekia Mack, Sr.; 6-1
F – Mael Gilles, Sr.; 6-0
F – Tyia Singleton, R-Soph.; 6-2
Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for KSLsports.com and host of the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (Saturday from 12โ3 p.m., KSL Newsradio). Follow him on Twitter:ย @Mitch_Harperย and theย KSL Sports app.