Jan. 4, 2017 Box Score | Photo Gallery
| RVision: Postgame Press Conference | RVISION: Postgame Highlights
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - The Rutgers women's basketball team made it back-to-back victories, opening the New Year with a 68-52 win over Wisconsin behind 11 3-pointers on Wednesday night at the RAC.
The Scarlet Knights improved to a record of 2-1 in the Big Ten and an overall mark of 5-11. The Badgers fell to 5-10 overall and 0-2 in the league.
Rutgers, who shot a blistering 11-of-19 from 3-point range, had four Scarlet Knights finish the contest with double figure scoring led by sophomore guard Khadaizha Sanders with 16 points and a career-high four three-pointers. Junior guard Shrita Parker followed with 15 points and sophomore Aliyah Jeune with 13 of her own. Sophomore center Victoria Harris rounded out the double digit performers with 10 points in the win.
Wisconsin was paced by Malayna Johnson with eight points followed by Cortne Fredrickson and Avyanna Young with seven points each.
Rutgers and Wisconsin got off to a slow start in the contest with the Badgers holding a slim, 6-3, edge after the first five minutes of play. A steal for Parker led to a three-point play to tie the score 6-6 at the 4:18 minute mark. The RU offense capitalized on the momentum as Sanders and Jazlynd Rollins followed with back-to-back three-pointers to put the Scarlet Knights in front, 12-6.
From there, Rutgers continued to grow its lead, capping the quarter with back-to-back shots from downtown for Jeune to extend the advantage to 20-13 at the end of the first quarter.
The squads traded points throughout the second quarter as RU held on to a 24-18 lead with 6:04 on the clock. Wisconsin's Suzanne Gilreath knocked in a basket from beyond the arc to make it a three-point game midway through the frame. However, RU responded with a 7-2 surge capped by a three-pointer from Sanders to set the Scarlet Knight lead at 31-23 heading into halftime.
Moving into the third quarter, the point-for-point battle continued between the teams as the Scarlet Knights edged the Badgers 35-30 with 6:23 on the clock. A jumper by Harris at the 4:58 mark would send RU on an 11-0 run to pull away on the scoreboard to a 46-30 lead. Despite two free throws stumping the surge, it did not halt the Scarlet Knight momentum as a three-pointer for Parker closed the third stanza with a 51-34 RU advantage.
Parker went on to open the fourth quarter with another shot from beyond the arc to give Rutgers its largest edge of the night at 54-34. Although the teams would trade points down the stretch, RU would hold at least a double digit lead for the remainder of the contest.
With less than four minutes to go in the game, the Badgers discovered a 5-0 burst on two free throws for Young and a three-pointer for Ashley Kelsick to cut the margin to 62-52 with 2:53 to go in the game. The Scarlet Knights shut down any chance of a comeback with successful trips to the charity stripe as Harris tacked on two for the game's final margin.
Up next, Rutgers hits the road for two contests in the Midwest. First RU will stop at Illinois on Saturday, Jan. 7 for a matchup with the Fighting Illini on BTN before heading to Nebraska on Tuesday, Jan. 10.
KNIGHT NOTES:
- Rutgers connected on 11 shots from beyond the arc, the most for the Scarlet Knights since knocking down 12 shots from 3-point range against DePaul on Dec. 7, 2006. Four different Scarlet Knights dropped in three's.
- The 11 3-pointers ties the RAC record for three's made in a game by a team. Providence originally set the benchmark with 11 back on Jan. 2, 1996.
- KK Sanders, who finished with a game-high 16 points, went 4-7 from downtown. Her four made 3-pointers ties for a single game high in 2016-17. Aliyah Jeune also had four 3-pointers at UVA.
- Rutgers finished with four in double figures for the first time this season.
- KK Sanders led RU in scoring for the third time this season.
- Sanders also handed out the ball eight times against the Badgers. She has handed out five or more assists in seven games in 2016-17, including the last five-straight contests. In the last five games, she has averaged 7.4 helpers per contest.
- Shrita Parker, who went 3-of-4 from long range, finished with 15 points. She has averaged 16.3 points in the last three games.
- Aliyah Jeune contributed 13 points and went 3-of-6 from downtown. She also handed out four assists and notched three steals.
- Victoria Harris came off the bench for 10 points and seven rebounds. It was her second double figure scoring game of the year.
- Rutgers captured a season-high 22 points off turnovers for the second-straight contest. The Badgers committed 22 turnovers. Four Scarlet Knight opponents have registered 20 or more miscues.
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