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Rutgers beats Hall without suspended Stringer

Feb 11, 2010 - 4:03 AM PISCATAWAY, N.J.(AP) -- Senior Brittany Ray scored 19 points and eclipsed the 1,000-point career mark in leading Rutgers to a 54-44 victory over Seton Hall on Wednesday night in a game in which Scarlet Knights' Hall of Fame coach C. Vivian Stringer was suspended for misusing practice players.

Stringer, whose team only has nine players, was suspended by the school for a game for violating an NCAA bylaw which states that managers may not participate as practice players with the institution's team if they are not eligible student-athletes.

Associate head coach Carlene Mitchell coached in place of Stringer and picked up her first career victory in a game played despite a heavy storm that dumped more than a foot of snow in the region.

"I think the No. 1 thing for me was walking out because for nine years I have walked out behind coach Stringer. You kind of smile sometimes as the fans start chanting her name," Mitchell said of her first coaching experience. "You never realize you are working for a Hall of Fame coach. These kids are playing for a Hall of Fame coach and sometimes we may take that for granted. (Stringer has) over 800 wins."

Rutgers scored the first nine points of the game, including a 3-pointer from Ray at the 17:59 mark to push her over the 1,000-point plateau. She became the 29th player in program history to do so.

Chelsey Lee added 12 points and a career-high 13 rebounds for the Scarlet Knights (14-10, 6-4 Big East). The game had a different feel to it without Stringer there.

Seton Hall (9-15, 1-10) had three players register nine points apiece in losing to Rutgers for the 10th straight time.