Box Score Nov. 20, 2016 Box Score
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - Despite draining eight shots from downtown and a career-high 14 points from sophomore Aliyah Jeune, the Rutgers women's basketball team fell, 62-54, to Virginia at John Paul Jones Arena on Sunday night.
Jeune, who went 4-of-8 from long range, was one of three Scarlet Knights (0-4) to finish in double figures. Shrita Parker, playing in front of family and friends from her native Virginia Beach, Virginia, also added in 14. Khadaizha Sanders, who finished 2-of-2 from 3-point range, finished the night with a career-high tying 12 points.
The Cavaliers (4-0) were led by Breyana Mason with 18 points. Aliyah Huland El captured 16 points and Lauren Mosses contributed 13 in the win.
Virginia held a six-point lead, 16-10, with 2:39 to go in the first quarter before Jeune made a five-point run of her own to pull the Scarlet Knights within one. Jeune captured eight points, going 3-of-4 from the field and 2-of-2 from downtown, during the opening quarter. Her second 3-pointer of the night pulled RU to within one, 16-15 with 1:23 to go.
While the Scarlet Knights trailed 22-17 at the end of one quarter of play, RU opened the second quarter on a 6-0 run. After the Scarlet Knights took possession on a charge, Sanders drove the lane to give RU a 23-22 lead with 4:39 remaining in the second quarter.
Although the Cavaliers regained the lead, a Desiree Keeling layup with four seconds left until the halftime buzzer pulled her Scarlet Knight squad back within one, 28-27, at the intermission. Rutgers finished the first half shooting 60% (12-of-23).
Virginia opened the third quarter with five answered points, but RU punched back with another three by Jeune and Victoria Harris hitting a jumper from inside the arc as the shot clock expired to trail, 33-32, at the quarter's midpoint.
From there however, Virginia used a 12-5 run, fueled by the Cavaliers knocking down shots from downtown, for a 45-37 advantage.
The third quarter came to a close as Sanders connected from long range and RU trailed by five, 45-40, entering the final quarter.
Just as she had closed the third quarter, Sanders opened up the fourth quarter from downtown as the once eight-point Cavalier advantage was reduced to two.
More three's for Virginia, however, gave the Cavaliers a double-digit edge to lead 43-53 with 6:26 remaining. A nearly three-minute Cavalier drought saw RU capitalize with seven straight-points. Capped by her fourth 3-pointer of the night, Jeune brought the Scarlet Knights within three, 53-50, with 3:54 to go.
The Scarlet Knights would not draw closer as Virginia closed out the game at the line hitting six of its seven attempts down the stretch.
The Rutgers women's basketball team closes out its four-game road trip after the Thanksgiving holiday with a short trip down Route 1 to meet Princeton on Friday, Nov. 25. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. at Jadwin Gym.
KNIGHT NOTES:
- After being outscoring a combined 52-25 in their first three games, RU outscored the Cavaliers, 10-6, in the second stanza.
- Three Scarlet Knights reached double figure scoring for the first time this season.
- Rutgers eight 3-pointers were the most by the Scarlet Knights since draining eight shots from downtown in last season's season-opening victory at Saint Joseph's. Against the Hawks, RU shot 8-of-12 from beyond the arc.
- Aliyah Jeune surpassed her previous high of 10 points netted last season at Minnesota (2-4-16). It was her second double digit scoring effort of her career and first time she has led RU in scoring.
- Jeune's four made 3-pointers are the most by a Scarlet Knights since Shrita Parker drained four 3-pointers against Ohio State (1-24-16).
- Shrita Parker posted 14 points and has scored in double figures in three of Rutgers' four games to date.
- KK Sanders tied her career mark with 12 points for the second-straight game. She also had 12 points in Thursday's loss at Wake Forest.
- On the boards, Virginia won the battle, 32-25, with Victoria Harris coming off the bench to lead RU with six rebounds.
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