PISCATAWAY, N.J. -- The Rutgers women's basketball team returned to the win column with a solid 61-41 victory over Wisconsin on Thursday night at the RAC. The win marked the Scarlet Knights seventh consecutive victory at home.
RU improved to a record of 11-4 overall and a mark of 2-1 in Big Ten action, while Wisconsin fell to 5-8 overall and 1-2 in league play.
Senior Kahleah Copper (Philadelphia, Pa.) poured in game-highs with 19 points and 13 rebounds, marking her fifth double-double of the year. Junior Tyler Scaife (Little Rock, Ark.) followed with 17 points, while senior Briyona Canty (Willingboro, N.J.) added in a season-high 11 points, with seven points coming in the fourth quarter, to round out the double-figure scorers.
Wisconsin was led by Dakota Whyte with 14 points followed by Michala Anderson with 11 points. Avyanna Young registered a team-high 11 rebounds in the loss.
After Wisconsin opened the contest with an 11-2 edge by the 3:10 minute mark, Copper shifted the momentum Rutgers' way with a three-pointer, igniting a 15-point run.
Senior Cynthia Hernandez (Ventura, Calif.) added another from beyond the arc to put the Scarlet Knights in the lead 12-11 at the end of the first period.
RU continued to extend its lead, reaching a 17-11 advantage with 6:46 to go in the second quarter. Young ended Wisconsin's six-minute drought with a jumper, as the Badgers discovered a 9-2 run to pull within one, 19-18, with 4:50 left in the half.
RU, however, controlled its lead by maintaining at least a three-point cushion to go into halftime up, 25-22.
Returning from the break, the Scarlet Knights picked up right where they left off, as Canty added in four consecutive points within the first two minutes of play in the third quarter. Sophomore Shrita Parker (Virginia Beach, Va.) kept the run rolling by sinking a three-pointer to give RU its largest lead at 34-22 with 7:32 left in the frame.
After being held scoreless for over three minutes, Wisconsin's Nicole Bauman connected on two free throws, pushing the Badgers on a 7-2 burst to cut into the deficit, 38-29, with 4:14 remaining in the third.
Although Wisconsin was able to bring the margin to single-digits on two more occasions, Rutgers re-established a double-digit, cushion, 49-37, for good on a three-pointer from Canty at the 7:06 mark in the fourth quarter.
The Scarlet Knights closed out the game's final minutes outscoring the Badgers 12-4 for the win.
The Rutgers women's basketball team hits the road again traveling to No. 5 Ohio State for a meeting with the Buckeyes on Sunday, Jan. 10 at 2 p.m.
KNIGHT NOTES:
- Kahleah Copper registered her fifth double-double of the 2015-16 season and second in the last three games. It was also her 10th career double-double.
- Tyler Scaife poured in 17 points and in her last six home games has averaged 20.3 points per game. She has reached double figures in the last nine straight games.
- Sciafe also moved up two spots on the all-time scoring leaders list to No. 21. Against the Badgers she moved past Essence Carson (2004-08) and Lorrie Lawrence (1980-84).
- Briyona Canty, who came off the bench in the victory, added in 11 points in the win. It was her second double-digit scoring effort of the season and first since dropping in 10 points in the home opener with St. John's on Nov. 19.
- Rutgers committed only four turnovers, the fewest since turning the ball over five times at Syracuse on Feb. 14, 2007.
- The Scarlet Knights battled to 30 points in the paint, the third time with 30 or more points inside. In the last three games, RU has averaged 28 paint points.
- Khadaizha Sanders had a team-high four assists, one shy of her career mark. In the last two games, Sanders has averaged 4.5 assists per game, while on the season is handing out on average 2.3 helpers. - After opening the first quarter shooting 0-of-6, RU rebounded to go 4-of-7 for the remaining five minutes of the opening stanza.
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