On Friday night, Rutgers women’s basketball will face their toughest test of the season in No. 4 Iowa. The Hawkeyes, ranked as the fourth-best team in the country, are led by one of the best players in the nation, Caitlin Clark.
Rutgers’ home venue, Jersey Mike’s Arena, is sold-out for the game.
Entering this matchup, the Hawkeyes are heavily favored due to their 14-1 start. They have won 11 straight games and have not lost since November 16. During their winning streak, Caitlin Clark has been a human highlight reel.
While Rutgers enters this game on a five-game losing streak, their last two games have provided some optimism. After getting off to slow starts, the Scarlet Knights have battled back to make games close. However, against Iowa, a slow start will be fatal.
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Against the Hawkeyes, Rutgers will need Kaylene Smikle and Chyna Cornwell at their best. Smikle has set the tone offensively, averaging 16.1 points a game. Cornwell has been a rebound machine, averaging a team-high 8.5 rebounds a game. If they struggled it will be a long night for Rutgers.
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Although the talented duo will be watched closely, all eyes will be on Caitlin Clark. The Des Moines native is averaging 31.5 points per game. She is also coming off a 40-point performance against Michigan State.
With the Scarlet Knights still searching for their first conference win, they will have their hands full on Friday.