Box Score

LINCOLN, NEB. - Despite erasing a double-digit deficit and pulling within four in the game's waning seconds, the Rutgers women's basketball team was held off by Nebraska in a 62-58 setback on Tuesday night at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

The Cornhuskers (5-12, 1-4 Big Ten) led 16-11 after the first period of play and led by as many as nine midway through the second period. The Scarlet Knights (5-13, 2-3 Big Ten) rallied back within two in the first half's final minutes, but Nebraska carried a 31-27 into halftime.

Returning from the break, the Huskers grew its lead to double-digits by the fourth frame. Although a three-pointer for Sanders brought RU within five with less than a minute on the board, Nebraska proved victorious in a shootout at the free throw line for the win.

Sophomore guard Khadaizha Sanders led RU with 17 points in the contest. Classmate Aliyah Jeune followed with 15 points, three shy of her career best, while junior Shrita Parker rounded out the double digit scorers with 12 points.

Nebraska was led by Jessica Shepard with a double-double, including game-highs with 22 points and 11 rebounds. Jasmine Cincore followed with 12 points, while Hannah Whitish added in 11 points in the win.

Both teams got off to a slow start in the contest with Nebraska using success at the free throw line to hold a 7-4 edge by the 2:55 minute mark. Jeune cut into the deficit with a jumper, igniting the RU offense and going on to sink a three-pointer that tied the game 11-11 with 1:06 left in the quarter. Nebraska's Cincore responded with five-straight points of her own to give the Huskers a 16-11 lead at the end of the first frame.

Moving into the second quarter, Jeune kept RU rolling with another three-pointer to keep the margin within reach at 18-16 with 7:53 to go in the stanza. The Huskers responded with a 7-0 surge. However, Jeune ended the run with her third bucket from downtown, as RU outscored the Cornhuskers 11-4 to make it a two-point game at 29-27 with 2:11 remaining. Nebraska tacked on the final basket of the first half to carry a 31-27 lead into halftime.

The Cornhuskers opened the third quarter by edging the Scarlet Knights, 10-5, to extend their lead to 41-32 at the 6:41 mark. Sanders knocked in free throws to stump the growing advantage. However, Nebraska went on to find its own success at the charity stripe to hold a 44-36 moving to the fourth and final frame. Another three for Sanders in the games waning seconds made it a five-point game as the Scarlet Knights trailed 58-53. With 18 seconds on the clock, Parker tacked a point hitting one of two free throws to set the margin at 58-54. Nebraska's Nicea Eliely followed two free throws of her own, however, Sanders responded with a coast-to-coast layup on RU's return down the court to set the score at 60-56 with 11 seconds to go. Whitish tacked on two free throws to follow and seal the win for the Huskers.

Rutgers returns home to host Michigan State on Saturday, Jan. 14 for a Noon tipoff at the RAC. The game will air on BTN with Lisa Byington and Christy Winters-Scott on the call.

KNIGHT NOTES:
- Senior Alex Alfano and freshman Jordan Wallace garnered their first career starts.
- KK Sanders tied her career-high with 17 points and led RU in scoring for the fourth time this season. She also netted 17 against Seton Hall (Dec. 13). Sanders was 3-of-4 from 3-point range and 4-of-4 from the line.
- Aliyah Jeune rebounded from a scoreless game against Illinois with 15 points against the Cornhuskers, the most points against a Big Ten opponent in her two seasons at Rutgers. In the last five games, she has averaged 9.4 points per contest.
- Shrita Parker collected 12 points, scoring in double digits for the fifth-straight contest. Over those five games, she has averaged 14.4 points per game.
- Rutgers managed to outrebound Nebraska, 32-31. KK Sanders, Aliyah Jeune and Victoria Harris each led the Scarlet Knights with five boards each.
- RU finished 7-of-16 from beyond the arc, hitting at a 43.8 percent clip. The Scarlet Knights have connected 40 percent or better from 3-point range in three of the last four games going 26-of-67 (.388) during the span.

Follow Rutgers women's basketball on Facebook (www.facebook.com/RutgersWBB), Twitter (www.twitter.com/RutgersWBB) and Instagram (www.instagram.com/RutgersWBB) for all of the latest news and updates. Fans also receive timely information, including special offers and giveaways throughout the year on both social media outlets along with www.ScarletKnights.com.