Box Score Dec. 10, 2016 Box Score
HOUSTON, TEXAS - The Rutgers women's basketball team was unable to stop of a late Houston surge and was edged by the Cougars in a slim 53-51 decision on Saturday night at Hofheinz Pavilion.
Sophomore Victoria Harris led the Scarlet Knights (2-9) by nearly posting a double-double with a career-high 13 points and nine rebounds. Junior Shrita Parker also added in 13 points while sophomore Desiree Keeling notched 11 points to round out the double figure scorers.
Houston (4-5) was paced by Serithia Hawkins with 11 points and nine rebounds. Chyanne Butler followed in 10 points of her own.
Rutgers held a 49-42 advantage with 2:41 left in the game before Houston rattled off nine answered points to take back the lead. The Cougars' Butler hit 1-of-2 from the line for a 51-49 Houston lead with 33 seconds remaining.
While the Scarlet Knights turned the ball over following Butler's free throw, Khadaizha Sanders came away with the steal off the Houston inbound. After a Scarlet Knight timeout to advance the ball, Rutgers followed with a Kandiss Barber layup to knot the score at 51-51.
The Cougars pushed ahead however on the following possession. Butler missed her jumper, but Hawkins grabbed the rebound and netted the put back for the 53-51 Houston lead.
RU still had nine seconds to make a basket to either win the game or send the game into overtime. Parker raced down the lane but was called for the offensive foul.
Rutgers had opened the game with a 13-7 lead by the 3:16 mark in the first quarter, but Houston closed the frame with eight-straight points to move in front, 15-13.
Although RU trailed by as many as nine midway through the second stanza, Parker turned on the momentum using a three-pointer to fuel a 9-3 run for the Scarlet Knights. A Parker three-pointer ignited seven unanswered points to pull RU back within two at 26-24 with 2:09 to go in the half.
Houston cushioned its lead with a three-pointer from Hawkins, however, Parker added a layup for her seventh point across the surge to keep it a three-point game, 29-26, moving into halftime.
The Scarlet Knights came out of the break with eight-straight points to reclaim the lead 34-29 with 6:00 to go in the third. A three-pointer for Houston's Harris stumped the run, but Rutgers responded an 8-2 run to close the third with a 42-34 lead.
Moving into the fourth, Sanders maintained the Scarlet Knights' prowess at the free throw line, knocking down two to give RU its largest edge at that point of the night at 44-34 with 6:54 left in the game.
Rutgers held its lead at 48-38 by the midway point of the frame. However, from there, the Cougars discovered a 13-1 run to reclaim the lead 51-49 with 33 seconds remaining on the clock setting up the dramatic finish.
Rutgers returns home for its final two nonconference matchups first with Seton Hall on Tuesday, Dec. 13. The Scarlet Knights then host Temple on Saturday, Dec. 17 at the RAC.
KNIGHT NOTES: -
The starting lineup of Shrita Parker, Khadaizha Sanders, Aliyah Jeune, Desiree Keeling and Victoria Harris was used for the first time this season.
- It was the third time the Scarlet Knights had a trio in double figures.
- Victoria Harris captured double figure for the first time in her career with a career-high 13 points. Her previous high was six points capturing three times this season in games with Chattanooga (Nov. 11), Princeton (Nov. 25) and St. John's (Dec. 7).
- Harris also set a new career-high with nine rebounds. Her previous high was eight at Princeton (Nov. 25).
- Kandiss Barber tied her career-high with eight rebounds. She also hauled in eight boards against Duke during the ACC/Big Challenge (Dec. 1).
- Khadaizha Sanders set a new benchmark in steals with her five thefts against the Cougars. Her previous high was four last captured at Virginia (Nov. 20) and at Elon (Nov. 14).
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