PISCATAWAY, N.J. - The Rutgers women's basketball team ended the regular season on a high note with a 72-50 victory over Michigan on Senior Day at the RAC on Sunday.
Rutgers improved to an overall record of 17-13 and a Big Ten mark of 8-10, while Michigan dropped to 17-12 overall and 9-9 in league action.
Tyler Scaife (Little Rock, Ark.) led all scorers with 23, including 17 first half points, while Kahleah Copper (Philadelphia, Pa.) put away her 10th double-double of the season with 20 points and 10 rebounds.
Michigan's Katelynn Flaherty netted 21 points, while Hallie Thome collected 11 in the loss. Madison Ristovki grabbed 13 rebounds.
The first quarter endured six lead changes. A Thome layup gave Michigan a 9-8 edge with three minutes remaining in the first quarter before the game went into a lull over the next three minutes. Briyona Canty (Willingboro, N.J.) hit a jumper from right outside the paint to end the drought followed by Scaife with a jumper at the buzzer sent RU into the second quarter ahead 10-9.
The Scarlet Knights managed to extend its advantage to five on the Wolverines three times by the midway point of the second quarter. The combo play of Copper finding Scaife on her way to the hole gave RU a 20-15 edge with 5:21 left until the intermission.
The Rutgers margin grew to double digits in the final minute of the second frame. Scaife went a perfect 5-of-5 from the line in the final moments to secure a 34-23 Scarlet Knight lead into the locker room.
The Wolverines whittled its deficit down to nine halfway through the third quarter. An 8-2 Michigan run made it 40-31 with three minutes to go, however free throws by Copper put RU back ahead by double figures heading into the fourth quarter.
Although Michigan's Siera Thompson hit a third quarter buzzer beater, the Scarlet Knights powered to a 50-38 advantage entering the final stanza.
The Scarlet Knights came out of the fourth quarter on fire outscoring the Wolverines 13-2 enroute to a 63-40 edge with six minutes remaining and maintained a 20-point cushion the rest of the afternoon.
The Rutgers women's basketball team will return to action at the 2016 Big Ten Tournament in Indianapolis. The Scarlet Knights will be the No. 10 seed and open tournament play with seventh-seeded Nebraska on Thursday, March 3 at 6:30 p.m. on BTN.
KNIGHT NOTES
- Kahleah Copper collected her 10th double-double of the year and 15th double-double of her four-year career.
- Copper poured in 20 or more points for the 11th time in 2015-16 and 30th time in her career "On the Banks". In the last eight games has averaged 20.5 points per game, reaching the 20-point mark six times during that span.
- With 20 points, Copper moved into fifth all-time on the scoring leaders list. She surpassed Telicher Austin (1985-89) and now has 1,790 career points. She needs 10 more points to become the fourth Scarlet Knight to achieve 1,800 career points.
- With 23 points, Tyler Scaife cracked the top 10 on the scoring leaders list. Scaife passed WNBA All-Star and 2015 All-WNBA Second Team member Epiphany Prince (2006-09) with 1,553 career points. - Scaife has reached the 20-plus plateau in 14 games this season and 31 times in her career.
- Kahleah Coppers set a new season high with five assists, one assist shy of her career mark. Her previous season high was four set twice this season against Maryland (Feb. 21) and Michigan State (Jan. 19).
- Michigan's 50 points were the fewest scored by the Wolverines this season. Michigan entered the game averaging 79.4 points per game. The Wolverines previous low as 56 in a 76-56 loss to Maryland on Feb. 17.
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