Rutgers Prep freshman Gigi Battle (#24) watches her shot go up in the third quarter of an 86-44 home win over Franklin on Opening Night, December 15, 2022. (Photo: Mike Pavlichko)
Meet the new Rutgers Prep, same as the old Rutgers Prep.
Actually, they’re not that new, with several huge pieces back from last year’s 29-3 team that made the last ever Tournament of Champions title game.
But the results were much the same: a full-court press to open the game left the Lady Argonauts up 7-0 before Franklin could score, and they pulled away to an 86-44 win on opening night at home Thursday.
Junior Mikayla Blakes led all scorers with 26 points in just three quarters of play, as the bench came in for the final eight minutes. Blakes had five treys, including a four-point play in the first quarter where she was fouled making a triple.
Rhode Island-bound senior Katie Ledden followed with 14 points, while freshman Gigi Battle finished with 10, and junior Zahra Alexander had nine. Another freshman in the starting five, Ava LaMonica, chipped in six.
Click below for postgame reaction, sponsored by SportsPlex at Metuchen:
