Rutgers shows its experience, toughness in win over Iowa State in Des Moines

3/25/2008 3:53 PM

By LUKE MEREDITH
AP Sports Writer

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) -Rutgers coach C. Vivian Stringer has said she regrets playing such a difficult regular-season schedule. After her team took care of Iowa State, however, it was clear the Scarlet Knights were toughened up for the tournament.

Playing in front of over 8,000 screaming Cyclones fans in nearby Des Moines, Rutgers (26-6) never wavered. The Scarlet Knights took an early lead by pounding it inside to junior center Kia Vaughn, then leaned on the backcourt duo of Matee Ajavon and Epiphanny Prince to beat Iowa State 69-58 and advance to the Greensboro Region semifinals.

Rutgers earned its fourth straight round of 16 appearance with the win and will face sixth-seeded George Washington (27-6) on Sunday.

The Scarlet Knights might have cost themselves a No. 1 seed by playing a brutal slate that included non-conference road games against Tennessee and Duke.

But that experience could prove more important than seeding as Rutgers attempts a run at a second straight Final Four.

``It was a tough place to play. It was hard to communicate at times,'' forward Heather Zurich said. ``We've played in some other places (that prepared us) to play here.''

What keyed Rutgers to wins over Robert Morris and Iowa State was a balanced, efficient offense. The Scarlet Knights shot over 50 percent in both games, thanks in large part to an increased focus on post scoring.

Rutgers usually puts the offensive burden on its talented backcourt duo of Ajavon and Prince, both first-team All-Big East picks. But both Robert Morris, Rutgers' first-round opponent, and Iowa State were susceptible in the paint, and the Scarlet Knights took advantage behind a resurgent Vaughn.

Vaughn went 9-of-12 from the field against Robert Morris, then put up 17 points in the first half against the Cyclones on her way to a season-high 23. Vaughn, who had reached double figures just three times in eight games entering tournament play, went off for 45 points in Des Moines.

``I think I set the tone early,'' Vaughn said after the Iowa State game. ``I think more so it was just me being calm and not being rushed into anything, and having to stay focused and execute.''

Vaughn's dominant first half against Iowa State helped open up things for her teammates in the second half. The Cyclones threatened to make it a game by pulling within four early in the second half, but Prince found enough space to drill two open 3s - each fed off an assist by the explosive Ajavon - to push Rutgers back ahead by 10.

``I think one of the things we're doing more for Vaughn is clearing the lanes,'' Stringer said. ``Once you get a lead like that, it's easier to get more people involved.''

One of the ancillary benefits of scheduling nearly anyone and everyone is that Rutgers increased it chances of facing a nonconference opponent again in the tournament. That's exactly what will happen with George Washington.

The Scarlet Knights faced the Colonials on the road back on Nov. 18, pounding them 67-42, and now Rutgers gets them on a neutral court in Greensboro. Or at least more neutral than the one they played on in Des Moines.

``Because of our schedule, we get a flavor and a feel for all the different conferences,'' Stringer said. ``We have a sense of what it's like in North Carolina.''