Rutgers Cruises to 108-54 Exhibition Victory Over Jaguars
Nov 04 | Women's Basketball
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Junior guard Essence Carson (Paterson, N.J.) led five Scarlet Knights in double figures with 21 points, 16 of which came in the first half, to lead the Rutgers women's basketball team to a 108-54 win over the Houston Jaguars an exhibition contest on Saturday afternoon at the Louis Brown Athletic Center.
Carson was joined in double figures by freshman Brittany Ray (Bronx, N.Y.) and sophomore Kia Vaughn (Bronx, N.Y.), who had 16 points apiece. Freshman guard Epiphanny Prince (Brooklyn, N.Y.) chipped in 15 points and seven assists and classmate Rashidat Junaid (Chesilhurst, N.J.) added 14 points and seven rebounds.
With a 22-17 lead at the 9:40 mark of the first half, the Scarlet Knights erupted for 13 straight points over a four-minute span to build a comfortable cushion. Ray and Prince each scored four during the run. Carson scored seven of the team's final nine points, including a pair of free throws with 10 seconds remaining in the half, to push Rutgers to a 51-28 halftime advantage.
The Jaguars cut the lead to 56-34 early in the second but could get no closer as the Scarlet Knights coasted to the 54-point victory.
The Rutgers freshmen class, ranked first in the nation by Women's Basketball Magazine and second by Blue Star, posted impressive numbers in the win. In addition to the combined 45 points by Ray, Prince and Junaid, fellow freshmen Myia McCurdy (Cincinnati, Ohio) and Dee Dee Jernigan (East Chicago, Ind.) scored nine and five points, respectively.
The Scarlet Knights recorded 20 steals, including 12 in the first stanza, with Carson accounting for seven swipes. Rutgers held a decisive 59-39 advantage on the boards as Vaughn registered a team best 10.
The Scarlet Knights officially commence the regular season on Sunday, Nov. 12, against Georgia in the State Farm Tipoff Classic in Norman, Okla. The game will be shown live on ESPN2 at 1:00 p.m.
