Final Stats | Photo Gallery | RVISION: Postgame Press Conference

PISCATAWAY, N.J. - The Rutgers women's basketball team opened its season against Chattanooga on Friday afternoon, suffering a 66-53 loss to the Lady Mocs.

Junior Shrita Parker led Rutgers with 10 points, including a 4-for-4 performance at the free throw line. She also tied her career mark with five assists. Sophomores Khadaizha Sanders and Aliyah Jeune added in eight points in the contest.

The Lady Mocs, the defending SoCon champions, finished with three players in double-digit figures, led by Chelsey Shumpert with a game-high 18 points. Keiana Gilbert posted a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Jasmine Joyner and Queen Alford rounded out the double-figure scorers with 13 and 12 points, respectively.

Despite RU opening the contest with a 6-0 edge within the first two minutes of play and grew their advantage to 10-5. The Lady Mocs, however, found a 11-4 burst to move into the lead 16-14. The Scarlet Knights knotted the score at 16-16, before a three-pointer for Alford gave the Lady Mocs the lead at the end of the first frame.

UTC would go on to lead by as many as nine points in the second quarter. A Jeune jumper in the waning seconds of the first half cut the Lady Mocs lead to 35-28 heading into halftime.

Returning from the locker room, Rutgers struck first on a Rollins layup, which ignited a 6-2 run for the Scarlet Knights. The run pulled RU within one at 37-36 with 5:45 to go in the third quarter. The Lady Mocs responded by retaking its edge to a double-digit as two free throws for Shumpert gave UTC a 51-40 at the close of the third.

Chattanooga continued to expand its advantage, leading by as many as 17 across the game's final quarter.

Up next, Rutgers begins a four-game road swing, starting with Elon on Monday, Nov. 14 at 5:30 p.m. ET.

KNIGHT NOTES:
- Ashli Jeune will be sidelined for the 2016-17 season it was announced prior to the game. The redshirt sophomore suffered an ACL tear in her left knee earlier in the week.
- Four Scarlet Knights made their debuts in Kate Hill, Jazlynd Rollins, Kandiss Barber and Jordan Wallace.
- The first starting five of the year consisted of Aliyah Jeune, Victoria Harris, Kate Hill, Shrita Parker and Khadaizha Sanders. It was the first career starts for Jeune and Hill.
- Shirta Parker was the lone Scarlet Knight in double figures. It was her seventh career game in double figures and second time in her career she led RU in scoring.
- Parker tied her career high in assists. The Virginia Beach, Virginia, native also dished the ball out five times in the overtime loss at Purdue (2/25/16).
- Rutgers was outrebounded 35-30. Aliyah Jeune led RU on the boards with seven, a new career-high. Her previous high was six at St. Joseph's in last year's season opener.
- Jeune also had a career-high in steals accounting for four of RU's six thefts.
- Victoria Harris also tied her career mark with six points. The Snellville, Georgia, native shot 3-of-4 from the field. She has netted six points three other times as a freshman last season.
- Harris totaled five rejections for a new career-high. Her previous mark was three against Savannah State (12-13-15).
- Desiree Keeling also finished with a new career number in points coming off the bench to score seven.

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